Today New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed a statewide smoking ban that will go into effect on June 15th. Richardson said "This is good public policy. It's the right thing to do."

I am very excited about this. No long will I come home reeking of smoke if I go out to a club with friends. Case in point, Saturday night I went with a friend to the New Mexico Scorpions game out at the Santa Anna Star Center. Afterwards they were having a part at Turtle Mountain Brewing Company where we were going to meet a friend who works for the Scorpions. Well after a few hours at the Turtle Mountain we all left reeking of smoke.

It is nice to see the ban go state wide after Albuquerque's which banned smoking in restaurants, but not bars or clubs.

Exceptions to the statewide ban include retail tobacco stores, cigar bars, casinos, private clubs, and one-person offices not generally open to the public.