The first growing season of California legalization is upon us. Adults 21 and over in the Golden State and beyond are beginning to think about their 2017 gardening plans. All of that, of course, starts with seeds.
If you are wondering where to buy seeds, you have several options. One of the first things you will want to do is contact all of your toking friends to see how many of them have been keeping seeds since they started smoking. Then, ask your friends if you can have or buy some of their seeds. Just be warned: newer seeds have a much higher success rate for germination than decades-old bag seed.
SPRING FORWARD: How to get into medical cannabis gardening — and recreational, too
If you go the commercial route – the modern market offers viable seeds from hundreds of different familial lines of cannabis. In states that have legalized marijuana for adult use and/or medical use, seed sales are regulated differently. In places like California, for instance, you can buy seeds or plant starts at a local medical marijuana farmers market or a retail or medical dispensary. You can also get seeds at te many cannabis festivals in legalization and medical state, like the High Times Cannabis Cup June 6 in Santa Rosa, CA. Some states have regulated legal sales to licensed marijuana businesses only, with no sales of seeds to individuals. In states that have no legal adult use or medical laws, you are on your own. Check your local laws at www.norml.org.
Buying Marijuana Seeds on the Internet
There are also many reputable seed purveyors around the world. A quick internet search, with some point and click cross referencing, will provide you links to some of the most popular cannabis seeds distributors on the planet. Many of them are located in the Netherlands – Amsterdam specifically. However, several US and Canadian companies have also proven themselves to be very trustworthy.
TWO OPTIONS: Should you grow seeds or clones?
The cost for seeds can vary, depending on the strain being offered. Because there is no industry standardization, the strain you buy from one purveyor may or may not be the same when offered by another purveyor. The price of seeds can vary from several dollars to several hundreds of dollars depending on the quality of the strain being “guaranteed” and whether or not you prefer feminized (guaranteed female-only) or non-feminized seeds. We’ve seen seeds go for $60-$100 for a ten-pack. Why so expensive? Well, just one good seed can result in a plant that yields a pound of dried, cured bud. A pound of primo can fetch $800 – $2,000 wholesale – – so the value is there.
Legal note: It’s still technically illegal to purchase seeds online and have them shipped across state or international lines to your house. The seed-sellers always say they are selling seeds for “novelty” purposes, not cultivation. However, the chances of getting in trouble for buying seeds online seems very, very low. From a law enforcement perspective, interdicting personal amounts of seeds and arresting the buyer does not yield a high enough return to be worth police’s time.
If you do buy online, go with a reputable seed seller who has a long track record, a brand name and a history of positive reviews. Ask cultivator friends for recommendations.
Some popular seed companies include:
- Gage Green Seeds
- Humboldt Seed Company
- Brothers Grimm Seeds
- Swamp Boys Seeds
- The Cali Connection
- BC Bud Depot
- MTG Seeds
- DNA Genetics
- TGA Genetics
- Green House Seeds
- Archive Seed Bank
- Aficionado Seeds
- Sensi Seeds
- Amsterdam Genetics
- The British Seed Company
[How do you like to get your cannabis seeds? Let us know on Facebook!]
[GreenState cultivation columnist Kevin Oliver is the co-author of “Idiot’s Guides: Growing Marijuana” (Alpha, 2016). Oliver is also the Founder/CSO, of Washington’s Finest Cannabis (A WSLCB Licensed Marijuana Business). Oliver is on the Board of Directors for NORML, the Executive Director of WANORML/WANORML PAC — The Washington Affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.]