Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has stated that the country’s prohibition on e-cigarettes and vaping is here to stay.
In particular, he vowed that the government of Thailand would not bend to outside lobbying efforts of multinational corporations who stand to benefit from the legalization of e-cigarettes.
Vaping devices, Prayut said, will have a negative impact on health outcomes of Thai people and place an extra burden on the country’s healthcare system if legalized.
In recent months, the Thai government has initiated numerous raids on shops and pop-up stores selling vaporizers and e-cigarettes.
One of the companies most intensely lobbying the Thai government to reverse its anti-vaping laws is Phillip Morris International, who is the manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes.
Thailand banned e-cigarettes in 2014.
Those who violate the vaping laws face up to 10 years in jail or a fine of up to 30,000 baht.
Criminal attorneys in Bangkok state that the country’s vaping prohibition is widely known or understood by everyday users of e-cigarettes, especially among tourists bringing their vaping devices to the Kingdom.
For that reason, many e-cigarette users end up in legal trouble without even realizing that they were breaking the law in the first place.
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