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MARQUETTE COUNTY -- It's been two days since the statewide smoking ban went into effect, and bar and restaurant owners in the U.P. are reacting to it after their first weekend in business with the ban in place.

Some people, even smokers, say they think this ban might help them quit.

Melody Doerr of Gwinn says, "Yes it will, because I can go either way, but I want to quit."

Patrick Healey of Ishpeming says, "It's great; I quit nine years ago and it's the best thing that's ever happened."

But that's not the view of veterans clubs across the state.  They signed petitions hoping to exempt the lodges from the ban.

While organizations like the V.F.W. have expressed their opposition to the ban in the past, Denise Johnson, owner of Buck's Restaurant in Ishpeming, says she thinks it will be good for business.

"The reaction from all the customers has been really good actually, nobody's complained," says Johnson.  "It's going to help tremendously--the whole environment is going to be cleaner, everybody, I mean I already even feel better, so it's going to help everybody."

Gary Tresedder, owner of Chapper's Pub in Negaunee, found a way to make the ban work for him by enclosing an area of his outdoor patio to be used exclusively for smokers.  The only catch is they can't take any food or alcohol into the area with them.  But, he says he expects his business to improve.

"On Saturday night, I noticed more non-smokers than in the past, which was nice," says Tresedder.

No matter your stance on the issue, officials at the Marquette County Health Department say the ban will just take getting used to.

Community Health Division Director George Sedlacek says, "I think a lot of the restaurant and bar owners knew that it was coming--there was a lot of publicity about it--but still, it is a change and all change is a little bit difficult."

Michigan is the 38th state to go smoke-free and so far, it seems that change is a good thing.