Why?
1) North Carolina has produced, is producing and will hopefully continue to produce some of the finest tobacco in the world.
Two other countries in the world that produce high-quality tobacco are Zimbabwe and of course Cuba.
Both are run by despotic madmen... perhaps we should do business with them instead?
2) Tobacco still happens to be a lucrative crop for farmers.
Many would get out of farming altogether if they had to switch exclusively to other crops.
I know this is true, because I've personally heard some say so.
I'm not too familiar with the price support system and if it's anything like milk supports, etc., it's probably mismanaged as hell.
3) From a personal standpoint, tobacco is part of my heritage and that of many native North Carolinians.
I would venture to say that without it, I and many others never would have been born, and NC would not be the place you love to live in today.
It's a way of life I would hate to see completely disappear.
I know that it will never again be like it was, but do-gooder busybodies like Rep. Henry "Nostrils" Waxman don't need to decree what farmers can grow on their own land by government fiat.
This is - for now - a legal product.
The FDA and assorted healthocrats need to butt the f* out of farmers' business.