The debate on legalizing e-cigarettes in Thailand continues. Now the country's Minister of Economy and Social Affairs wants to make vejpning an election issue, reports the Bangkok Post newspaper.
"I will push the issue of decriminalization in the upcoming elections" says Social Affairs Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.
E-cigarettes have been illegal to sell, import and use in Thailand for many years. It is currently unclear how many Thais use vapes despite this. According to statistics, the number of users is around 80 000, and the number of unreported users is likely to be high, according to the authorities.
"We need to stop pretending that the ban on vejpning and vapes is working. We really haven't solved the problem" says Social Affairs Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn i Bangkok Post.
Tourist sentenced to a fine
According to the paper, the issue of vejpning was recently raised after a famous actor who was a tourist in Pattaya got into trouble. She was stopped by police after vejpatting in public, an incident that ended with a suspected bribe equivalent to 10 000 Swedish crowns. In the debate that followed the incident, calls for legalization became increasingly clear.
"In all countries where e-cigarettes are banned, people find ways to both sell and obtain them. This is done in secret and, in the worst cases, leads to illegal activities and bribery. We see this trend both online and in physical markets. Vaping has become part of many people's lives, despite the ban." says Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.
Taxation is the key
Instead, he believes that e-cigarettes should be legal to both sell and use. Recently, despite the current ban, e-cigarettes were added to the list of taxable products, which Vejpkollen reported on. According to Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, taxation is a key issue.
"The government should make sure to collect taxes on e-cigarettes. That is a main reason to legalize. That way, sales can benefit the population" says Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.
WHO recommends ban
According to the World Health Organization, countries that do not actively regulate e-cigarettes and other alternative nicotine products should instead ban them. The WHO recommendations have had an impact across much of Asia. This is particularly true in countries where smoking rates are very high and the state has interests in tobacco production.
The WHO's approach to vejpning has been severely criticized on several occasions by health professionals and scientists around the world. As recently as last year, the use of e-cigarettes illegal in 40 countries while the products are illegal to sell but allowed to use in 32 countries.
Previous attempts failed
Minister of Social Affairs Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn has also at a previously proposed legalization of e-cigarettes. At the time, the proposal was voted down in Parliament.
Thailand is one of the countries with the most Swedes living abroad, more than in Sweden's neighbors Denmark and Finland. Every year, 120,000 Swedes travel to the country for tourism.
