Virginia smoking ban moves forwardVirginia smoking ban moves forward

Elissa Elan

RICHMOND Va. Virginia, a state known for some 300 years as a primary grower of tobacco, is poised to ban smoking in restaurants.

Last week, the state's House and Senate voted to approve a bill that would allow smoking only in private clubs or in establishments that build properly enclosed, ventilated rooms for their smoking patrons.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who has long championed a smoking ban in the state, is expected to sign the bill soon. The law would take effect Dec. 1.

Though smoking bans in Virginia have been proposed several times in recent years, they repeatedly were defeated. Smoking in bars and restaurants in the neighboring District of Columbia was banned in 2006 and in Maryland in 2007.

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