Moving and confused

Hello all!

I'll be moving to Bangkok at the end of the month, and am very confused by what I'm reading. When I prove I'm not spam, I suppose I can articulate what I'm confused BY. Until then, greetings.

 

Just post hello to 4 more newbies threads and it will be ok

 

^^ thanks, that should help.

 

Yes it will

 

...and for my SIXTH post, the source of my confusion:

I'm moving to Bangkok with my wife at the end of this month, and all of my research on the laws applicable to vaping in Thailand, coupled with the stories I hear and posts I've read on this forum today, have me quite confused. As I (think I) understand it:

- the actual act of vaping is legal wherever smoking is also permitted
- possession of vaping equipment is......ok?
- possession of nicotine liquid is.......forbidden?
- import of anything is........forbidden?

The question marks come from the fact that vaping appears to be illegal in Thailand, as well as any import or possession of liquid. But I see a brick & mortar directory.....but you can't sell it! Plus, the prohibition of nicotine liquid - as it reads to me, it's like making cars legal but gasoline illegal, which just cooks my fragile brain.

So what REALLY gives? Because I'm moving, I will be bringing a lot of personal equipment and liquid that I don't want to lose, for both monetary and "I don't want to revert to smoking" reasons.

Can anyone clarify this?

 

Well there is only a law about nicotin products, but this being thailand thay do what thay want and we cant do anything about it, i never had any problems tho.



import and sale of nicotin is forbidden, rest is a matter of who you speak with.

sry i cant say anything clear but again i never had a problem with bringing in my personal stuff but i never got checked...

 

The reason for this is no laws have been proposed, let alone passed, since the advent of e-cigs. Liquid nicotine requires a pharmaceutical license, cigarette-like products are forbidden from import, sale, or manufacture.

While normally there wouldn't be much issue, with the recent junta crackdowns, it's the luck of the draw.

 

Yeah - this junta thing. We in the states haven't seen much on the news. What's the atmosphere over all, not just vaping specific?



Sent from 4 Yawkey Way, where my heart will always reside.

 

Thailand is very different from the United States... to say the least. Your questions characterize how this is true in many ways, particularly in regards to laws and their enforcement.

As others have said, you will be able to vape here. You should not have to revert back to smoking. There are challenges in getting what you want and when you want it (and sometimes at the price you want to pay). But if your first objective is to stay tobacco free, just this forum alone will give you access to enough liquid and equipment to help make that happen. The rest is up to you!

As far as being able to definitively answer "what REALLY gives?" That will take some time for you to experience and form your own opinion. I have been here only long enough to know when to answer without really answering. That in itself is part of the answer!

Welcome to the forum and best of luck with your transition.

 

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but we don't see them closing down establishments of ill repute.

Based on what I know, from living here 8 years, it's more likely that they are setting the stage for some sort of regulation that will put money in the pockets of those who's livelihood comes from taking a piece of the action.

It is possible the tobacco industry could become concerned about E-cigs encroaching on their revenues, but the reality is this is a country with mostly poor people who can not afford to vape, because of the high up front cost and need to ship products and supplies to rural areas. It simply does not fit with the current smoking culture of the less privileged. Of course, there are exceptions, but I believe the majority of Thais vaping fall into the middle and upper classes and that's not enough to put a dent in the tobacco industry's profits. If it does, they are more likely to follow the lead of the US companies and try to take over the E-cig market while pushing out the smaller players.

There are, or certainly will be, arguments made that E-cigs are a risk to youth, but again, with the high cost of entry that just doesn't fit. Claims of that nature are just smoke and mirror tactics aimed at achieving an unspoken agenda.

I think the only real concern should be how much more expensive vaping will become as those with influence try to take a cut of the action.

 

In Thailand.. Things are never black and white.. Its always a grey area.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. I think I'm getting what's left unsaid.


Sent from 4 Yawkey Way, where my heart will always reside.