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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Thailand’s DES wants to legalize the e-cigarette in an effort to reduce cigarette smokers

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The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) set up a working group just before the weekend to see if electronic cigarettes could be legalized as an alternative to tobacco smokers.

Asa Salikupt, of the End Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) network, said the network wanted to embrace DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn’s plan to legalize e-cigarettes and hopes the working group will be transparent, according to public opinion. will listen and provide e-cigarette users with the correct information.

“We believe that legalizing e-cigarettes will help Thailand achieve its goal of reducing the number of cigarette smokers and protecting non-smokers from the danger of secondhand smoke,” he said.

He also pointed out that the excise department could introduce an e-cigarette tax once it’s legalized.

Maris Karanyawat, also of ECST, said Britain, New Zealand, and the Philippines are likely to start promoting the use of e-cigarettes as it can reduce the consumption of harmful substances and help those who cannot stop using them. smoking real cigarettes.

He added that many studies and foreign policy the network has cited to date have shown that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to tobacco.

More than 70 countries have legalized e-cigarettes because it can reduce the number of smokers,” Maris added.

Last week Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, MP from the Move Forward party, said in a Facebook post that he supports the legalization of e-cigarettes and that he has spoken with Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit about the steps to be taken.

He pointed out that by banning e-cigarettes, the government is losing tax revenues, people are losing access to a safer alternative and Thailand’s Tobacco Authority is losing an opportunity to make money.

He also promised to follow the issue closely and work to make smokers’ dreams come true.

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