PDEA: 'Tuklaw' cigarette not direct cause of seizures

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) spokesperson, Atty. Joseph Frederick Calulut, clarified on Saturday that the “Tuklaw” cigarette will not directly cause seizures immediately after consumption.

In an interview, Atty. Calulut explained that seizures from smoking the Tuklaw cigarette stem from the synthetic cannabinoid it contains. Synthetic cannabinoids are designer drugs made from dried plants intended for smoking. They mimic the effects of cannabis by binding to the same receptors in the brain.

Although Tuklaw contains a higher nicotine content — around 9 percent compared to the 1–3 percent found in regular cigarettes — it does not instantly trigger seizures in users.

According to Atty. Calulut, “Tuklaw” is available online based on their investigation. “Yung nangyari sa Palawan, allegedly, ang sinasabi nila ay may nagbigay sa kanila,” he said.

“Tuklaw,” originally known as thuốc lào, refers to a traditional Vietnamese method of tobacco smoking. What sets thuốc lào apart from other types of tobacco is how it’s consumed, typically through a water pipe.

The tobacco used, derived from the Aztec Tobacco plant (also called strong tobacco), is significantly more potent than other tobacco varieties.

Calulut said that the reported case of users in Palawan who experienced seizures after smoking thuốc lào had consumed it in cigarette form. He also noted that it is traditionally smoked in Southeast Asia.

Currently, there are no laws in the Philippines that prohibit the use of Tuklaw.