‘Mushrooms’ and ‘pods’ keep vaping under the radar
PETALING JAYA: It’s been more than four months since the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) is in force yet vape products are still being found sold online.
While searches for “vapes” yield no results, products can still be found by searching for specific brands.
To make matters worse, suspicious liquids labelled by sellers as “mushrooms” are also openly sold, claiming to guarantee being able to pass urine tests.
On a social media platform, various vape products are marketed openly in their e-commerce section, with various flavours offered by each seller.
They also use the word “pod” to label the product, with it costing as cheap as RM10.
This is in stark contrast to the situation when Act 852 was enforced on Oct 1 last year, where vapes were nowhere to be found online.
Meanwhile, some sellers are marketing “mushroom juices” on a social media platform and even offering postage and self-pickup services. They are only marketed on closed groups and not openly.
The suspicious-looking liquids are packaged into small bottles and fitted with droppers, sold from as low as RM60.
The colourful liquids are sold in 5ml and 10ml packaging including disposable pods.
“Prices are negotiable and the quality is claimed to be the best. You can also combine it with any other flavours you want. Urine will also be clear,” a seller said in the caption.
Another seller said those purchasing higher quantities will have a special discount.
Reviews about the product were also posted.
Earlier in January, the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) confirmed that the “magic mushroom” contained liquids processed from cannabis and many are misused through vaping.
In the Klang Valley, however, checks at several vape stores found them complying with regulations under Act 852.
Sellers have also begun ensuring their products cannot be seen from outside the store, despite a grace period offered here up till April 1 this year.
“We’ve heavily tinted the glass at all three of our outlets.
“Although there’s still time until the grace period ends, we had to take into consideration how long the work takes.
“At least now, we don’t have to rush as the work is already done,” said a vape store employee who wanted to be known only as Ramli.
At another store, an employer who identified himself as Fauzi said internal briefings were conducted to educate staffers on the regulations.
“We are quite well versed in what needs to be done. Apart from tinting the windows and glass doors, we also took down posters at walls near windows in the premises.
“There’s no need to take any chances on this,” he said.
Vape products in several convenience stalls were also observed to have been repositioned to locked containers behind counters.
The first phase of Act 852 came into force on Oct 1 last year. The second and third phases are to be enforced beginning April 1 and Oct 1 this year, respectively.
The Act seeks to cover regulations on registration, sale, packaging, labelling and prohibition of smoking in public places.
