The Thai government is opening the door to legalizing e-cigarettes. Vaping has been banned since 2014 in the country, but according to the Minister of Economy and Social Affairs, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, smokers (and tourists) in the country should have access to safer alternatives to cigarettes in the near future.
Thailand has long been known as the nightmare of vejps. Since 2014, e-cigarettes have been illegal to sell, bring in and use in the country. High fines and risk of imprisonment has acted as a deterrent for both residents and tourists.
But now Thailand's Minister of Social Affairs wants to, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, see a change.
"E-cigarettes are a safer alternative for smokers who have difficulty quitting. And we have 10 million smokers in Thailand today" says Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn to Bankok Post.
"Huge black market for e-cigs"
Despite the ban, nearly 80,000 Thais are currently using vejp. However, this figure is likely to be higher as, due to the ban, many are buying and using e-cigarettes and e-liquid through a large black market. Organizations ECST (End Cigarette Smoke Thailand), which lobbies for the legalization of e-cigarettes, estimates that there are close to one million vejp users.
"We look at the number of members on Facebook forums and at sales in the groups. The number of vejpers has increased even though e-cigarettes have been banned for seven years. It shows that the ban is not working. It's a huge black, unregulated market" says Maris Kranyawath from ECST to Bankok Post.
Wants to tax instead
The black market in vejpdon and e-liquid is another reason why the government is now raising the issue. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn the government loses a lot of revenue, not least through reduced cigarette sales. E-cigarettes act as a substitute for smokers and illegal sales lead to losses of up to 6 billion baht (about SEK 17 million) a year, according to the minister.
"If we can tax sales, the government will make money and smokers will have legal access to healthier alternatives to cigarettes," says Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn to Bankok Post.
Tobacco - an important source of income
Tobacco and cigarettes are important to the Thai treasury. Through its tobacco monopoly, the Thai government grows and produces over 70 percent of the cigarettes sold in the country. But according to Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn e-cigarettes may also become an addition to the monopoly in the future.
"If we can utilize the tobacco farms to produce other products, like e-cigarettes, and in the future export them, then both tobacco farmers and the state benefit," he told the Bankok Post.
"Should play sports instead of smoking"
But opposition to e-cigarettes is strong in Thailand. Several strong lobby groups have put pressure on the government to maintain the current ban. According to these groups, the long-term effects of e-cigarettes are unknown and the technology is unsafe.
"The best way to stop smoking is without any aids at all. And if we get young people to do more sport, they won't start smoking" says the doctor Winai Boweja, to the Bangkok Post.
Doctors want long-term studies
At the same time, it notes Winai Boweja that smokers with lung disease have a better quality of life since switching to e-cigarettes.
"It's an interesting technology, but we can't say for sure that vejpning is less harmful than smoking. We need long-term studies on how the content of the vapor affects the lungs. Right now we only have short-term studies" says Winai Boweja to Bankok Post.
In countries like the UK and New Zealand e-cigarettes have become a tool in the fight against smoking. According to several major health organizations e-cigarettes can reduce the harmful effects of smoking by almost 95% or more.
E-cigarettes could become legal quickly
Despite the fact that Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn The minister wants to legalize e-cigarettes in the near future. In the spring, a committee will look at the options available. It will also examine whether the current import ban is compatible with human rights and smokers' right to less harmful nicotine products.
And hopes are high among the country's vejpers.
"The current ban is ineffective. If vejp products became legal, we would have standardized products. They may be more expensive, but at least it keeps young people away. E-cigarettes are safer than cigarettes. Why should they be illegal, when a much more harmful product is not?" Maris Kranyawath from ECST to Bankok Post.
