That’s the question which has plagued Cootamundra resident Leslie Stott for the past three years.

Now the fed-up disabled pensioner is launching a grassroots campaign to grow his own tobacco.

Mr Stott first researched the idea online and discovered a wealth of information about home growing happening overseas. 

“I started looking at homegrown tobacco, like [a type of] organic gardening, and I found that there was no real research on it,” he said.

“The only real research on homegrown tobacco was done by a homegrown tobacco group in America.

“They’re come out and said that homegrown tobacco is like smoking a cigar, the only cancer you are going to get is throat cancer.”

The smoker of 40 years questions why it can be legal to brew beer for personal consumption, but not grow  tobacco for yourself.  

“Look at all the issues alcohol causes, and yet the government allows you to brew your own,” Mr Stott said.

“You can go online and bring up all the home brewing kits you would want.” 

Being legally able to grow his own tobacco would mean Mr Stott could offset the price tag of his $177 a week current smoking habit for a blend of his own liking. 

“I would like to be able to make a blend up that I choose and I like, and not incur any penalties or any fines or anything like that,” Mr Stott said.

“Just give me the same rights.”

But Wagga Cignall Tobacconist owner Wayne Carroll said allowing people to grow their own tobacco wouldn’t work. 

“If that were to happen no one would be paying tax and the government wouldn’t get any money,” he said.

“We wouldn’t be able to have hospitals and roads, that’s were all the money goes … it would be like if everyone in Australia had their own brewery.” 

According to the Australian Taxation Office, it is illegal to grow tobacco in Australia without an excise licence.

A manufacturing licence can be granted if a person wished to produce tobacco or store goods used in the manufacture or production of tobacco. 

“Licences to grow tobacco are subject to strict rules and conditions and are rarely granted,” a statement on their website reads.

“No licences will be granted to grow tobacco for personal use.”