Smoke Free World Threatened

Seattle smokers are breathing a little, uh, easier, today after the state Supreme Court struck down a Pierce County smoking ban, stating that banning smoking from Pierce County bars, restaurants, and casinos is in conflict with state law.

There is a law at the state level that prohibits smoking in public places, but it exempts bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and casinos as well as a few other traditional haunts of the smoker.

Of course, Pierce County contains Tacoma but not Seattle, which resides in King County, but local smokers should take heart that the enemy has been beaten back from the gates for the time being. A smoking ban in the state now seems to have its best chance at life by coming through ballot initiatives such as 901 (.PDF). There are two additional bills in the works with backing from Gov. Christine Gregoire, however, House Health Care Committee vice-chair, Dawn Morrell, said yesterday that the committee doesn't intend to hear any more smoking-related bills this session.

Seattlest encourages non-smokers in the city to consult this map for safe harbor.