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Tag: Kpods

  • Don’t Criminalize Nicotine Over Illicit Vapes: CAPHRA

    Don’t Criminalize Nicotine Over Illicit Vapes: CAPHRA

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates cautioned governments in Asia not to use the rise of etomidate-laced “zombie vapes” as a pretext to restrict regulated nicotine products. While authorities have reported health risks linked to illicit vapes, CAPHRA stresses that adults using safer, legal alternatives to quit smoking should not face penalties.

    CAPHRA calls for stronger enforcement against criminal traffickers, enhanced testing and surveillance, and clear public warnings on adulterated products, while maintaining access to regulated nicotine alternatives as part of credible tobacco harm reduction strategies.

  • Singapore Approves Tougher Anti-Vaping Law

    Singapore Approves Tougher Anti-Vaping Law

    Singapore passed amendments to strengthen enforcement against vaping, with tougher penalties set to take effect May 1 under the renamed Tobacco and Vaporizers Control Act 1993. The updated legislation replaces the earlier Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993 and targets e-cigarettes and “KPods,” vaping devices laced with the anesthetic etomidate. Individuals caught using vapes could face fines of up to S$10,000 ($7,800), up from S$2,000 ($1,560), while sellers may be fined up to S$200,000 ($156,000) and jailed for up to six years. Importing vapes will carry mandatory prison terms of up to nine years and fines of up to S$300,000 ($234,000).

    The law also introduces harsher penalties for offenses involving minors or vulnerable people, including up to 20 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane for adults who involve them in smuggling or supplying KPods. Entertainment venues such as clubs and bars must prevent patrons from vaping and require devices to be discarded, while drivers entering Singapore can no longer avoid liability by claiming they were unaware of vapes in their vehicles.

  • Singapore Drastically Raising Vape Fines

    Singapore Drastically Raising Vape Fines

    Singapore’s government introduced sweeping amendments to its tobacco control laws that would sharply raise penalties for vaping-related offences and expand powers to tackle psychoactive substances. The Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) and Other Matters Bill, tabled on Feb 12, proposes renaming the law the Tobacco and Vaporizers Control Act and increase maximum fines for users from S$2,000 to S$10,000 ($1,560 to $7,800), S$200,000 ($156,000) and up to six years’ jail for sellers, and S$300,000 ($234,000) and up to nine years’ jail for smugglers. The move comes six months after authorities tightened enforcement, as more than 3,500 people were caught for vape possession and use in the final four months of 2025.

    The Bill also targets etomidate-laced vapes, or “Kpods,” by listing etomidate and its analogues as specified psychoactive substances, aligning penalties with those under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Etomidate was temporarily classified as a Class C drug from Sept 1, 2025, amid rising youth use, with the listing now extended to April 30 while legislative amendments are finalized. The proposed changes would allow for strict penalties — including imprisonment and caning for trafficking and smuggling — and apply extraterritorially to Singaporeans and permanent residents who commit offences overseas.

  • Malaysian Dealers Doing Bait-n-Switch on Drug-Laced Vapes

    Malaysian Dealers Doing Bait-n-Switch on Drug-Laced Vapes

    Drug-infused vape liquids marketed as “magic mushroom” products in Malaysia are largely mislabeled and instead contain synthetic drugs such as cannabinoids or MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy or molly), according to police and medical experts. While psilocybin mushrooms are classified as an illegal drug in Malaysia, they are at least naturally occurring. Monash University Malaysia addiction psychiatrist Dr. Anne Yee said most vape users—and even sellers—do not know what is actually contained in the products, commonly called Kpods.

    Police data show that about 65% of vape liquids and devices seized in 2023 tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids or ecstasy, with no confirmed cases involving psilocybin, the hallucinogen found in real magic mushrooms. Authorities say the “magic mushroom” label is a marketing tactic rather than a reflection of the contents. The Narcotics Crime Investigation Department and Malaysia’s National Poison Centre have both confirmed that chemical analyses have found no mushroom-derived hallucinogens in seized samples, but instead detected new psychoactive substances that can cause hallucinatory effects. Experts warn that the unknown composition of these products poses serious health risks, as symptoms can range from dissociation and hallucinations to anxiety, psychosis, and impaired motor control.

    Medical professionals stress that diagnosing affected users is challenging because patients are often unsure what they consumed. Yee said clinicians rely heavily on symptoms and patient accounts, noting that effects beyond nicotine indicate drug-laced products.