Earlier this year, Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) reaffirmed its efforts to legalize e-cigarettes. It then announced the formation of a working group to study how these products could be legalized as a safer alternative for smokers.

Despite backlash from local health and anti-smoking campaigners, in December Congressman Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said he was exploring ways to legalize the sale of e-cigarettes. 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 into a more sustainable industry.

In January, the minister reiterated his position at a rally where people campaigned for his ministry. He reiterated that the legalization of e-cigarettes would allow the country to profit from taxes and provide a safer option to quit smoking. Although in recent days he has said a task force will be formed to analyse whether e-cigarettes could be legalised, allowing smokers to seek alternatives to help them quit.

Asa Salikupt from the End Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) network applauded DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn's plan, adding that he hoped the task force would be transparent, open to public comments and open to feedback from current vapers. "We believe the legalization of e-cigarettes will help Thailand achieve its goals of reducing smokers and protecting non-smokers from secondhand smoke," he said.

Until recently, Thailand had a tough stance on vaping. A 2019 survey conducted at the annual Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) in Warsaw revealed that Thailand was the worst country in the world for vaping users, with Australia ranking second.

In Thailand, since November 2014, the import, export, sale and possession of e-cigarette products has been banned. Anyone who violates this law will have their products confiscated and fined or jailed for up to 10 years.