Earlier this year the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry of Thailand had reaffirmed its efforts to have vaping legalized. Subsequently it announced setting up a working group to look into how the products can be legalised a safer alternatives for smokers.
When Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said he would explore ways to legalise the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping as many other countries have done since it poses less risk than conventional smoking, he also mentioned how e-cigarettes being sold online and on the black market damages the local tobacco market, leading to loss of 6 billion baht in income each year. Chaiwut's statements have stirred debate among supporters of e-cigarettes and anti-smoking campaigners.