OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — State lawmakers are looking into the possibility of allowing people to smoke cigars and pipes at some cigar lounges and tobacco shops.
Bills proposed in the state House and Senate would allow cigar lounges and retail tobacco stores to apply for a special state endorsement. The Seattle Times reports cigarettes would still be banned and the designated smoking area would be physically separated from other areas that prohibit smoking.
No more than 100 cigar lounges and 500 retail tobacco shops in the state could allow smoking.
The cost of applying for the state endorsement would be $15,000 for cigar lounges, and $5,000 for tobacco stores. The stores would have to pay the fee every year to renew their endorsements.
