The Ralston City Council has lifted the city's smoking ban.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to repeal the local ordinance. Businesses can now allow smoking until a new state law takes effect next June.

Ralston councilman Jerry Krause says the city had a choice of defending its smoking ban against a lawsuit or repealing the law.

Ralston's ordinance had banned smoking in the workplace but provided exemptions for keno places, private clubs, tobacco shops, and bars with limited food service.