Cigar Bars Could Return to Washington State

For the fourth time since a smoking ban took effect, Washington state is seeing a movement to give cigar lovers state-regulated places to smoke.

A bill passed unanimously Thursday by the Commerce and Gaming Committee of the Washington state House would legalize cigar bars and smoking rooms in tobacco shops, allowing 115 new venues to smoke pipes and cigars.

Proponents say the state would make tax money and give users of a legal, controlled substance a place to use what they're buying.

Opponents see a public-health concern and a betrayal of will of the voters who passed the smoking ban in late 2005.

Periodic attempts to carve a cigar-lounge niche into the state smoking ban have come and gone without leaving much of a mark.