The recent pronouncement by the surgeon general that secondhand smoke is indeed hazardous will certainly end any hope smokers had of overturning the statewide ban.

Opponents had challenged the dangers of smoking for nonsmokers.

“The health effects of secondhand smoke are more pervasive than we previously thought,” said Surgeon General Richard Carmona. “The scientific evidence is now indisputable: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard.”

Skeptics can quibble with the details, but the trend on smoking is clearly moving toward increasing prohibition. Colorado just enacted a statewide ban that is similar to Washington state’s.

That doesn’t mean that Washington state’s smoking ban is perfect. We supported it, but cautioned that the 25-foot buffer zone for smoking outside would be nettlesome, and it has been.

Smokers moving 25 feet from one business can find themselves in front of another. Or out in the street.

And was it really the intention of voters to have nursing-home residents forced outside in the dead of winter?

Overall, the smoking ban has been a success. It is here to stay. But lawmakers ought to consider reasonable exceptions.