Debate on legalising e-cigs in Thailand as danger to foreign tourists is made very plain this week

[webfact 161300]

The comments suggesting a move by the Palang Pracharat Party to legalise e-cigarettes came on Friday from senior cabinet member Mr Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn, a deputy party leader and currently the Digital Economy and Society Minister. It comes as a crackdown on vaping and e-cigarette products gets underway with some confusion as to the legal status of foreigners found in possession of illicit devices.

 

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

 

Recent assurance from Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn that foreign tourists cannot be arrested for using vaping devices is at odds with what we have seen happening and what many visitors have been told by police officers, even on January 4th last in Bangkok in the case of Taiwanese movie actress Charlene An or An Yu Qing. The shocking story of French woman Cecilia Cornu in February 2019 in Phuket should also be looked at and seen as a cautionary tale to foreigners in Thailand of exactly what can happen when visitors find themselves on the wrong side of the law that does not appear to be clear even to the police with the Metropolitan Police Bureau this week saying the Taiwanese actress should have been arrested.

 

A senior Thai cabinet minister called for the legalisation of e-cigarettes on Friday following this week’s dramatic events linked with the damaging extortion case involving Taiwanese actress Charlene An or An Yu Qing. Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn said a move to legalise the currently illicit activity would help to raise money for the government and eliminate a dangerous breeding ground for corruption. His view appears to contradict sentiments expressed by Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the Thai public health minister who controversially made cannabis legal in Thailand last year.

 

Anutin told a conference in August 2022 that e-cigarettes should remain prohibited as a threat to public health despite being used regularly by over 80,000 Thai adults, many of them young while it is perfectly legal in most countries.

 

A senior cabinet minister and member of the Palang Pracharat Party has promised that if his party returns to power after this summer’s General Election, it will move to legalise vaping and e-cigarettes.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/02/03/minister-talk-of-legalising-e-cigs-begins-charlene-an-yu-qing/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-02-04

 

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[Jerno 2873]

Isn't the PM supposed to have all his Ministers and Ministries in line with the Gov't policies.  Obviously Pray-hoot doesn't, repeatedly, and it's a testament to his incompetence as Gov't Leader.  It's rather surprising given his Military background as Supreme leader of Thailand's Armed Forces.  However maybe he was an incompetent General, but with just enough grit to pull off a coup and manipulate the Constitution to assure him PM 8 years ago.

[ukrules 31992]

I can imagine that the police are missing out on a huge amount of extorted money now that cannabis has been made legal.

 

When it was illegal I'd bet they made many millions of Baht every month by threatening people with long prison sentences if they don't pay massive bribes - legalisation has destroyed a lucrative income stream.

 

They must be really feeling the pain here and have decided to extort a different group of people - those with e-cigs.

 

If they legalise e-cigs I wonder who they will go after next?

[rankric 174]

Legalising weed is great business for the Police if they introduced drug tests for drivers. 

 

Legalising vaping would be great for everyone except the tobacco companies. 

 

 

[jcmj 996]

Tobacco companies are the ones probably fighting this tooth and nail. They don’t have a monopoly on vapes so it’ll hurt their profits. 

[hotchilli 48307]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Recent assurance from Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn that foreign tourists cannot be arrested for using vaping devices is at odds with what we have seen happening and what many visitors have been told by police officers,

Does anyone believe what he says?

[hotchilli 48307]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn said a move to legalise the currently illicit activity would help to raise money for the government and eliminate a dangerous breeding ground for corruption

The RTP will just find another revenue stream to fund their monthly bonus fund.

The government were forced to act when Chuwit linked gambling to the Chinese which hurt the RTP's funds, so they were told by a higher figure to target the public.

If the government make these e-cigarettes legal another revenue collection will spring up.

[zzaa09 8531]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

The RTP will just find another revenue stream to fund their monthly bonus fund.

The government were forced to act when Chuwit linked gambling to the Chinese which hurt the RTP's funds, so they were told by a higher figure to target the public.

If the government make these e-cigarettes legal another revenue collection will spring up.

They always find something.

Should expect it.

[nchuckle 4475]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

If they legalise e-cigs I wonder who they will go after next?

Beware having "impure thoughts" 😱 

[ikke1959 11176]

vaping forbidden, cigarettes can be sold, freely, cannabis, no problem, other drugs 1 tablet no problem, selling vapers etc no problem, foreigners.. charge them...

[spidermike007 61700]

This is entirely about the lack of profits on the part of the government tobacco monopoly. It has nothing to do with health. Breathing one day's air in Bangkok is likely comparable to a months worth of vaping. And vaping is legal in most countries, so this is just another example of Thailand being out of step with the nations of the world. 

 

If a cop hassles you just tell them to call your buddy Phiphat.

[TheFishman1 4703]

Why have they switch the subject about the shakedown of the actress in the Singapore man for 27,000 that why haven’t they talked about the millions each month they’re collecting from these checkpoints  TIT

[dallen52 2698]

But still openly sold.

And used by RTP and immigration officers openly.

Can be seen at Jomtien soi 5 many times..

"Do as I say, not do as I do"...

[dallen52 2698]

But still openly sold.

And used by RTP and immigration officers openly.

Can be seen at Jomtien soi 5 many times..

"Do as I say, not do as I do"...

[jacko45k 38207]

2 hours ago, jcmj said:

Tobacco companies are the ones probably fighting this tooth and nail. They don’t have a monopoly on vapes so it’ll hurt their profits. 

You reckon........!

Of course.......

This topic moved on to weed, as expected, despite that not being the topic.... might as well bring casinos in on it! 

[dallen52 2698]

Something doesn't compute in my old brain. 

More than 250 outlets selling weed in Pattaya now.

Consume ln or take away.

You can get cbd vapour medication so how do you stand with the use of these.?

Medication certification in a foreign language?

Needs a shake up.

But why stop here?.

Edited February 4 by dallen52

[digger70 3453]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

I can imagine that the police are missing out on a huge amount of extorted money now that cannabis has been made legal.

 

When it was illegal I'd bet they made many millions of Baht every month by threatening people with long prison sentences if they don't pay massive bribes - legalisation has destroyed a lucrative income stream.

 

They must be really feeling the pain here and have decided to extort a different group of people - those with e-cigs.

 

If they legalise e-cigs I wonder who they will go after next?

Maybe they can uphold the law for the road rules 24/7  and corruption.

Lots of money to be made there,Legally and Illegally. 

[Tarteso 6388]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

senior cabinet member

Is he? 🤔

[IAMHERE 4543]

3 hours ago, rankric said:

Legalising weed is great business for the Police if they introduced drug tests for drivers. 

 

Legalising vaping would be great for everyone except the tobacco companies. 

 

 

AND the Tax Authority. Real Smokers can not bring enough tobacco into the country to last two weeks; then they buy local and pay a nice tax. Vapers easily bring  in enough for their 2,3,4 week vacation; no taxes there.  The law should not prohibit vaporing, just prohibit bringing any consumables thru customs. Of course the customs boys would have a natural desire to spread around their new found wealth.

[ignore it 666]

1 hour ago, IAMHERE said:

.. Smokers can not bring enough tobacco into the country to last two weeks; then they buy local and pay a nice tax.... 

Not to defend the Kingdom, but for reference: Thailand ranks #57 in ranking the cost of a pack

Marlboro. (an expensive brand in Thailand, with many packs cheaper).  [Retrieved from numbeo.com}

#1 Oz highest at Baht 942,87; #107 Pakistan lowest at Bhat 31.01. Thailand Bhat 141.70. Looking at the countries ranking below Thailand, personally I'd be happy to just get out of those places.

 

[ignore it 666]

On the Vape issue for tourists;

I am contacting Lonely Planet in this regard advising VAPE users coming to Thailand to roll their VAPES up disguised as a nice big fatty Joint.

My local vape shop has already ordered the "Ejoint" which can be filled with any normal vape liquid.

 

Walking around Bkk or Patts with a VAPE= PROBLEM

Walking around Bkk or Patta with a Joint = NO PROBLEM

 

[xtrnuno41 1218]

as danger to foreign tourists

In foreign countries, vaping, electric cigarettes are legal and therefor used by people.

This is just a scheme for not loosing monopoly, money in tobacco.

Tobacco is way more dangerous then vaping, due to all the substances in tobacco, which you dont have in vaping. Btw im a smoker, but Thai rolling tobacco sucks.

Import some from other countries, thats way better.

In 2004, i was in Indonesia and found amazingly my brand, 4 packages just 2 euro, was flabber gasted. While in my country, one package costed 7 euro, then.

I bought it, it was export quality, way better then my countries quality, amazing, loved it.

 

[IamNoone88 4986]

If it is illegal, it is illegal until such a time as the law changes. You can't be half pregnant.

[JackGats 1069]

5 hours ago, ukrules said:

I can imagine that the police are missing out on a huge amount of extorted money now that cannabis has been made legal.

 

When it was illegal I'd bet they made many millions of Baht every month by threatening people with long prison sentences if they don't pay massive bribes - legalisation has destroyed a lucrative income stream.

 

They must be really feeling the pain here and have decided to extort a different group of people - those with e-cigs.

 

If they legalise e-cigs I wonder who they will go after next?

That's true. On the other hand, where have tobacco smokers been all these decades? Not demonstrating for cannabis legalisation for sure. Rather, quite comfortable with cannabis users being jailed or sentenced to death for "using drugs". Maybe it's now cannabis users' turn to be selfish and hypocritical.

[timmyboy 3]

This is ridiculous. E cigs openly available everywhere but illegal. From a western view point Thailand has so many things right but they drop the ball with stuff like this. 

[mommysboy 5984]

9 minutes ago, timmyboy said:

This is ridiculous. E cigs openly available everywhere but illegal. From a western view point Thailand has so many things right but they drop the ball with stuff like this. 

Agreed. Whenever they've had a key turn in the road on this issue, they've always gone the wrong way imo. Sadly, I don't expect that to change.  In fact I expect a double-down on this one. Can a tourism based country not be liberal? ... I don't think so. Otherwise, it becomes like the hotel whose boss imposes all sorts of unreasonable rules on patrons, ie, the stay is ruined.

 

Just see what happens when every week some tourist ends up deported, fined heavily, or even jailed.  There's no half way house of a bribe anymore, so it's either turn a blind eye, or do it the proper legal way. Will be interesting I guess.

 

The most curious thing is that vaping appears to safe (in the normal casual sense we use the word).

[Mickeymaus 2486]

I am not against vaping. But the tourists should understand the laws before they come to Thailand. If they don't do it then it is not the fault of Thailand.

 

In Singapore for instance chewing gums are not allowed. So better don't use them or face the consequences. And many countries have laws that are different than the laws of the countries the tourists come from. Think of Arab countries. And if tourists believe they are so special that they can ignore local laws and regulations - stupid, but up to them.

[Aussieroaming 6988]

If vaping is deemed dangerous and therefore illegal in order to protect people from themselves then driving in Thailand should be illegal for all because more people are killed or maimed on Thai roads than vaping will ever cause. Thailand refuses to properly address the horrendous road statistics and instead constantly picks "low fruit" like vaping in order to keep attention away from real issues.

 

Likewise pollution in Thailand is a bigger risk to people than vaping. I don't vape and I think that vaping is likely bad for people but it ranks lower than other risks in LOS.

 

Edited February 4 by metisdead
Extra spacing removed.

[mommysboy 5984]

7 minutes ago, Mickeymaus said:

I am not against vaping. But the tourists should understand the laws before they come to Thailand. If they don't do it then it is not the fault of Thailand.

 

In Singapore for instance chewing gums are not allowed. So better don't use them or face the consequences. And many countries have laws that are different than the laws of the countries the tourists come from. Think of Arab countries. And if tourists believe they are so special that they can ignore local laws and regulations - stupid, but up to them.

It's a fair point, the law is the law, but can a tourism based country afford to have stupid, unreasonable laws? Also, it's human nature to flout laws when they are nonsensical.  In addition, if you walk down the street and see vapes on sale, and people walking around vaping (including cops it is claimed) then you can understand why someone else thinks it's ok to do it.

[Mickeymaus 2486]

9 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

It's a fair point, the law is the law, but can a tourism based country afford to have stupid, unreasonable laws? Also, it's human nature to flout laws when they are nonsensical.  In addition, if you walk down the street and see vapes on sale, and people walking around vaping (including cops it is claimed) then you can understand why someone else thinks it's ok to do it.

If I understood it correctly then the police cannot charge you. There needs to be a court case - not easy with tourists. If the police wants money then it is illegal. You also can insist that the vendor that sold this stuff gets immediately removed and also punished.