Anutin dashes hopes for e-cigarette legalization - orders DDC to work with police and customs

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported after a meeting of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation chaired by DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul that the minister has dashed hopes of e-cigarette legalization.

 

Vaping is illegal in Thailand and that is the way things are going to stay.

 

Anutin said that he had ordered the Department of Disease Control to work with the police and customs to ensure that vaping devices and vaping fluid is not imported into Thailand.

 

And he is determined to work with schools and educational organisations to make sure that e-cigarettes are not available among young people leading to more taking up regular smoking.

 

Thailand's stance on the issue is in line with some countries and in stark contrast to others.

 

But his comments on the issue - along with his high political profile and aspirations to be the next prime minister - show there is little appetite for liberalization.

 

Famously the minister has played a leading role in the liberalization of marijuana though he would argue that he is against recreational smoking and is in favor of medicinal use, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Anutin also expressed his pleasure that New Year road accidents were down 20% and pledged to work on ensuring no drinking and driving at Songkran in April.

 

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[Enzian]

I was "out on the town" the past two nights around Asoke/Nana and I could almost always see someone nearby vaping. Isn't this going to be like the recreational aspect of the pot initiative, once it gets to this stage it's never going to be walked back or stopped?

[ThailandRyan]

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

And he is determined to work with schools and educational organisations to make sure that e-cigarettes are not available among young people leading to more taking up regular smoking.

So wait, vaping leads to regular smoking of cigarettes? Is this guy aware people turn to vaping to stop smoking and then there are clean e-juice fluids which have no diacetyl in it!!!!!

 

Yet smoking Marijuana is good for your health and lungs....

[WHansen]

The insanity of the man continues

[mikeymike100]

Obviously he can't figure out how to tax the importation of E Cigs and the fluid etc?

Yet everywhere in Thailand you can buy these devices for a few hundred baht, so someone is importing them?

[connda]

Anutin dashes hopes for e-cigarette legalization.

Translated:

Anutin makes the tobacco monopolies happy.

[redwood1]

E-cigs are about as illegal as prostitution is in Thailand...

 

Vapes are openly sold all over the place....

 

It only seems illegal for farangs to get caught vaping...The Thais seem to have zero fear of vaping anywhere...

[Gknrd]

I was around a vapor recently, the guy never put it down for the two hours we were talking. That cannot be better than cigarettes. 

[redwood1]

1 minute ago, Gknrd said:

I was around a vapor recently, the guy never put it down for the two hours we were talking. That cannot be better than cigarettes. 

No one ever said vaping was a 100% good for you...

But they are much better for people than cigarettes...

[johnnybangkok]

7 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

I was around a vapor recently, the guy never put it down for the two hours we were talking. That cannot be better than cigarettes. 

The NHS seems to think so. 'Vaping is not completely risk-free, but it poses a small fraction of the risk of smoking cigarettes. The long-term risks of vaping are not yet clear. E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke'.    https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/using-e-cigarettes-to-stop-smoking/#:~:text=Vaping is not completely risk,harmful elements in tobacco smoke.

[Photoguy21]

19 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

I was around a vapor recently, the guy never put it down for the two hours we were talking. That cannot be better than cigarettes. 

But is it any worse? I have no idea but if it is slightly better than cigarettes wouldn't it be better to ban cigarettes?

[RedRoadRunner]

How this guy can hold position in the government is totally beyond believe !!!!!

[Chongalulu]

10 minutes ago, RedRoadRunner said:

How this guy can hold position in the government is totally beyond believe !!!!!

When looking at the composition of such government his inclusion doesn’t really stretch credibility… ???? 

[Chongalulu]

While there is little contradiction that vaping is less harmful than cigarettes and that smokers switching to vaping is generally beneficial, the only issue relates to (young) non smokers taking up vaping, believing it harmless,who otherwise might not have smoked. I incline towards vaping having an overall beneficial effect when considering all factors.

[Roel]

14 minutes ago, RedRoadRunner said:

How this guy can hold position in the government is totally beyond believe !!!!!

Yes, it's almost as if one should begin to believe that family name and wealth carry more significance than knowledge and competence.

[mommysboy]

Now, in the UK there are sporadic reports of some quite serious lung complaints in young people. I think these are linked to illegal disposables.  Possibly these are rare instances in already vulnerable people, but It's a little worrying.  I'm a vaper by the way.  The Vaping industry really shot itself in the foot when by negligence or otherwise it made these excessively tasty products openly accessible to youngsters. It's a pity because vaping is a real public health boon to confirmed smokers.

[Thingamabob]

1 hour ago, WHansen said:

The insanity of the man continues

Not insane. Very smart in  looking after his own interests.

[finnomick1]

1 hour ago, Gknrd said:

I was around a vapor recently, the guy never put it down for the two hours we were talking. That cannot be better than cigarettes. 

Bit like a baby and a dummy

[lazj58]

I agree vaping should be illegal.

BUT.. .Why dont the police and/or the army enforce the law?

Also I believe it is illegal to smoke cigarettes in restaurants and bars.

This is not enforced either.

 

 

 

[BestB]

1 hour ago, Gknrd said:

I was around a vapor recently, the guy never put it down for the two hours we were talking. That cannot be better than cigarettes. 

Yes it can, because you sucking on oil not an unknown combo of chemicals which creates tar and stays in the air for hours if not days.

 

someone vaping can vape in room all day long, open window and 10 mins later you would not smell a thing . Someone smokes 1 cig and next day you can still smell it 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin said that he had ordered the Department of Disease Control to work with the police and customs to ensure that vaping devices and vaping fluid is not imported into Thailand.

But smoking normal tobacco products and marijuana is fine.

Buffoon

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

But his comments on the issue - along with his high political profile and aspirations to be the next prime minister - show there is little appetite for liberalization.

Really?

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

......and pledged to work on ensuring no drinking and driving at Songkran in April.

 

Keep this in mind when viewing the statistics post Songkran ????

[sambum]

Why can't I block statements from Anutin? (And don't tell me that I don't have to read them  - they're in my face on the headlines on AseaNow and other publications.)

 

The more I hear from him the more I wonder why people can not see him for the money grabbing self centred buffoon that he is, whose lack of diplomatic skills is obvious every time he opens his mouth?

 

Fist of all he legalises the use of Cannabis (For medicinal purposes only - yeah, right! Nothing to do with the fact that he has got a lot of money tied up in the business, then?), and now he refuses to legalise vaping, which is bound to please the Tobacco Industry chiefs in Thailand no end, and no doubt they will be showing their gratitude in the usual time honoured fashion!

 

Minister of HEALTH? Should be renamed Minister of WEALTH as that seems to be his prime objective - not the wellbeing of the people, that's for sure!

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Famously the minister has played a leading role in the liberalization of marijuana though he would argue that he is against recreational smoking and is in favor of medicinal use,

Strange that it didn't pan-out that way..

the man must have a very selective form of vision.

[paul1804]

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Obviously he can't figure out how to tax the importation of E Cigs and the fluid etc?

Yet everywhere in Thailand you can buy these devices for a few hundred baht, so someone is importing them?

And he doesnt own factories that manufacture E cigs but he does own Canabis plantations!!!

[BestB]

For as long as Tobacco monopoly is party or fully owned by the government  vaping will remain banned. Health has nothing to do with it.

 

They worry about kids picking up vaping, but not so worried about kids picking up smoking.

 

Gums, patches are rarely available in pharmacies and if it is , it is an astronomical high price.

 

He mentioned he wants to stop importation of vaping gear into Thailand, appears dumbo is not aware Thai ejuice manufacturing has grown  from 1-2 brands to over a dozen already, and it is nicely made and packaged.

 

 

[ubonr1971]

1 hour ago, Gknrd said:

I was around a vapor recently, the guy never put it down for the two hours we were talking. That cannot be better than cigarettes. 

it was in a uk paper recently. A 20 yr old girl in hospital after 2 yrs of vaping. Severe lung damage

 

this health minister is a f77l

[BestB]

For people who do not know much, watch this first video which clearly shows the difference between smoking and vaping. while not a scientific study but gives you a good idea 

Smoking vs Vaping

 

And now watch this video, how smoking weed works but apparently its all ok, not harmful and helpful

 

[redwood1]

4 minutes ago, ubonr1971 said:

it was in a uk paper recently. A 20 yr old girl in hospital after 2 yrs of vaping. Severe lung damage

 

this health minister is a f77l

Not every thing is good for everyone in this world....

Untold millions have vaped with no problem....

 

Some people should absolutly never drink, or smoke weed, or eat peanuts, or eat MSG or a million other things.....

 

There will always be someone with a bad reaction to anything....