Can't tax it so you can't grow it. The farm probably went broke because of the pittance being paid for the tobacco. Selling it for $50 a kg gives them a much better return. I had a laugh a few years ago when a stall at a street market was selling it as organic tobacco (under the counter of course).

It surprises me that, over the years, the tobacco growers never set up 'cellar doors' to sell boutique tobaccos.

You are right about the pittance. I believe thay got somewhere like $8/kilo whilst the government got $600/Kg