While legalizing medicinal marijuana in 2018, Thailand just banned the sale of vaping products containing any form of marijuana.

Thailand, known for its draconian anti-drug laws, legalized medical marijuana in September 2019 and began producing its own cannabis products, including THC and CBD oils, tablets, mouth sprays, chocolate wafers and other potions. "We grow without any chemicals. No pesticides. No fertilizers," said a researcher at the Institute for New Medicinal Cannabis at Rangsit University's Faculty of Pharmacy at the time.

"We don't know if they got the seeds from Thailand or from a neighboring country. We don't know for sure. It's just unknown. After we get the bud, we're going to hand it over to the pharmacy. They'll check the THC and CBD levels."

On the other hand, the National Tobacco Products Control Board has just banned the sale of vaping products that contain any marijuana, as well as any cigarettes and cigars that contain the substance.

New e-cigarette regulations are in the works

To this end, new guidelines with clear regulations on e-cigarettes will soon be introduced. Meanwhile, since November 2014, the import, export, sale and possession of e-cigarette products has been banned. Anyone found violating the law will have their products confiscated and fined or jailed for up to 10 years if convicted.

In October 2021, Congressman Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said he was exploring ways to legalize the sale of e-cigarettes, despite backlash from local health and anti-smoking campaigners. He was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying he believed e-cigarettes were a safer option for those struggling to quit smoking. In addition, he said, local tobacco growers and the Tobacco Authority of Thailand would benefit greatly if the tobacco industry was transformed to a more sustainable alternative.

In January, the minister reiterated his position at a rally where people campaigned for the ministry. He reiterated that the legalization of e-cigarettes would allow the country to profit from taxes and provide a safer option for quitting smoking. He added that a task force would be set up to analyse whether e-cigarettes could legalise smokers to help them quit.

The current ban remains the same

However, two months later in March, the Ministry of Health yesterday advised against lifting the ban "continuing a ban on all types of e-cigarettes used for vaping would "help protect non-smokers from health hazards," said the Ministry of Health Perm-Sec Kiattipoom Wongrachit said at a recent meeting of the government's Tobacco Committee. "Banning the sale of e-cigarettes is an important measure to protect children from harm," he added.