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October 08, 2024 by bangkokpost.com

The Public Health Ministry aims to rehabilitate 20,000 young vape users to combat the widespread use of e-cigarettes among teenagers. Minister Somsak Thepsutin's plan includes hospital screenings to bring smokers into the rehabilitation system. Concerns raised by Senator Premsak Piayura highlighted the urgency of addressing the issue, with statistics showing a significant rise in underage vaping. The ministry's framework focuses on monitoring, law enforcement, and awareness campaigns to tackle the problem effectively. Additionally, a joint committee has been formed to enforce regulations, resulting in the seizure of over 60,000 vaping products.

August 23, 2024 by planetofthevapes.co.uk

Thai officials are concerned about smoking related illnesses and death, but they still won’t accept that vaping offers a reduced harm approach by means of a solution. Last week, another official sent out a statement regarding smoking-related dangers. Meanwhile, the national tobacco industry continues to pump out cigarettes and the nonsensical ban on vaping leads to corruption and a booming black market.

July 25, 2024 by independent.co.uk

Thailand will regulate cannabis for medicinal use instead of re-listing the plant as a narcotic, the deputy prime minister said on Tuesday, in the government's U-turn on its previous policy. Prime minister Srettha Thavisin had vowed to make cannabis illegal by the end of 2024, just two years after Thailand became one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise marijuana.

June 17, 2024 by bangkokpost.com

Teachers nationwide are now empowered to confiscate e-cigarettes in schools, as authorized by the Education and Commerce Ministries. This measure aims to address the worrying trend of students using e-cigarettes, which can harm their health and development. Despite efforts by Obec and police, the issue persists due to limitations on seizing items without police intervention. The proactive initiative allows educators to enforce anti-smoking laws, protecting students from the risks of vaping. This move follows Bangkok's initiative to make schools e-cigarette-free, enabling thorough bag checks and education on vaping dangers.

October 23, 2023 by bangkokpost.com

Over the past several years, we have seen the world wake up to the question of whether vapes and e-cigarettes are a better alternative to tobacco, which is well documented as harmful to our health. Authorities in the UK are preparing to ban the sale and manufacture of single-use vapes by next year [...] We have witnessed a growing debate over the safety of vaping in Thailand, where it is illegal but nonetheless widely available. The question is whether vapes and e-cigarettes are as harmful as traditional tobacco products. People are also concerned about the reasons behind the ban, and whether or not smokers should switch to vaping for better health.

September 18, 2023 by bangkokpost.com

Most parents of students agree the new government should maintain the current ban on the import and sale of e-cigarettes, citing the potential health risk, according to the Research Centre for Social and Business Development (SAB). Suriyan Boontae, deputy director of the SAB, said 91% of the 5,582 respondents nationwide supported a continuation of the ban, saying it would limit young people's exposure to smoking. The survey was conducted among 4,087 parents of students from upper primary to high schools. The other respondents were teachers and school administrators.

April 26, 2023 by filtermag.org

Thailand’s general elections on May 14 might just bring about the end of the country’s draconian vape policies. Merely possessing a nicotine vape can currently get your item confiscated, land you with a big fine or even send you to prison for up to five years. Severe penalties and corrupt enforcement have seen Thailand branded the world’s worst country to be a person who vapes. But Thai tobacco harm reduction activists are hopeful that things will soon change.

February 08, 2023 by bangkokpost.com

The recent news of police extorting tourists for possessing e-cigarettes raises the question of whether it's time or not to legalise these electronic devices. But it's an issue that goes beyond limiting the income stream of crooked cops.

While cigarettes, with their detrimental impacts on health, are legal, e-cigarettes have been banned since 2017. Despite the ban, about 80,000 e-cigarette users in the kingdom are violating the law. More than half of this number is in the 15–24 age group.

November 08, 2022 by bangkokpost.com

A domestic tobacco control network has voiced concern about young children smoking e-cigarettes.

A member of the national tobacco product control board said there has been a spike in the number of teenagers who vape.

According to a survey on Thai people's health conducted in 2019 and 2020, 5.3% of children aged 10 to 19 years have tried vaping, and 2.9% do so regularly. Around 30% of people in this age bracket who smoke e-cigarettes are women, the study showed.

October 31, 2022 by bangkokpost.com

Despite Thailand's ban on e-cigarettes, they are easily available online. Worse, consumers are subject to heavy lobbying from the vaping industry, which spreads disinformation in its bid to end the ban. The government must put a stop to this dirty business. The ban on e-cigarettes has been in effect since 2014. The Public Health Ministry says the vapour from e-cigarettes contains nicotine, which is highly addictive and harmful to health. The ban also applies to refills and other vaping equipment with punishment to both vendors and vapers if the law is enforced.