I've been doing this for years, until lately we purchased a split type aircon for our shop and just before setting off, the people that installed it said to strictly not let anyone smoke inside.
I smoke inside the car with AC on almost all the time. I set the fan to normal level (number '2' during Manila mid day heat) and open the driver's window and just close the AC vent on this side as well. All the other windows are closed.
Btw, both of my cars AC system works brilliantly, even my older car. O baka swerte lang ako di pa napupuruhan...