Ong said that Brunei, Laos, and Cambodia have already implemented the ban. Even Thailand, which allows medical marijuana, has also outlawed it, he added.
“Malaysia plans to ban it in one year’s time.
“I am hoping that Asean, as a region, can move collectively in this direction,” he said during a dialogue with Malaysian journalists, here.
On Sept 25, Ong’s Malaysian counterpart, Dzulkefly Ahmad, said his ministry aims to ban the sale of vapes and electronic cigarettes by the middle of next year.
Explaining Singapore’s position, Ong said his country took a decision to outlaw e-vapourisers “from day one” after concluding that the health risks far outweigh any claim of harm reduction.
“You can legalise vapes, tax them and get revenue, but it is not worth the damage to young lives and society. The damage is far higher.”
He said studies by his ministry found that a single vape pod could contain nicotine equivalent to four packets of cigarettes, and that young people often consume an entire pod in one day.
Ong also said vaping habits among the young were vastly different from those of traditional smokers..
od in one day.
Ong also said vaping habits among the young were vastly different from those of traditional smokers.
“When you smoke a cigarette and it finishes burning, you stop. But the vape goes on forever. And a kid can really go on until the entire pod is finished.”
He also said there was a risk of more dangerous substances being put into vape devices.
“Today it is lychee or durian-flavoured, tomorrow it becomes marijuana-laced or cocaine-laced.”
Ong admitted that Singapore faces challenges in tackling the smuggling and illicit use of vapes, but emphasised that the problem “would have been far greater” if vaping were allowed.