A complete guide to purchasing marijuana seeds

These days, buying marijuana is easier and more convenient than ever. Dispensaries are popping up all over the United States, and medical marijuana isn’t so hard to get a prescription or card for in many regions. Still, there are plenty of smokers out there whose first priority isn’t convenience. If you’re interested in taking the DIY route and growing marijuana in your own house, make sure you read our comprehensive guide to marijuana seeds before you make your purchase.

Is Buying Marijuana Seeds Legal?

Marijuana seeds fall under the same legal jurisdiction as any other psychoactive cannabis product like edibles, concentrates, or bud itself, so they’re only legal in states where cannabis is legalized. If you want to buy marijuana seeds without risking any trouble, you want to either purchase them legally from a brick-and-mortar dispensary or an online business that operates out of your state in which cannabis has been legalized.

If you live in a state where marijuana is completely legalized, you should have no problem finding a dispensary where you can buy seeds, but you can’t cross state lines, as cannabis is still federally illegal and crossing state lines with it is technically trafficking. 

If you live in a state where medical marijuana is permitted, you’ll need to obtain a medical card in order to buy seeds.

Dispensaries Abroad

Buying seeds online from European companies, most commonly located in the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands, is a popular way for Americans to obtain marijuana seeds. Cannabis is legal in many countries abroad, and their seed banks will often sell products to Americans for “souvenir purposes.”

Be wary though, as buying cannabis from foreign entities and bringing them into the States is strictly illegal. Cannabis products pass through Customs every day, but there is no guarantee. If they find it in a package on the way to your house, they will confiscate it. Trying to bring marijuana seeds on a plane after a trip abroad isn’t a great idea either, because if law enforcement finds you trying to bring any cannabis related products into the states, you could face legal consequences.

What Seeds Should I Buy?

Marijuana seeds come in a variety of strains, and some are harder to grow than others, so you’ll want to make sure you do a fair amount of research on what kind of seeds you want and have the resources to grow properly.

There are a few factors that contribute to how easy a certain seed is to grow. For one, some strains are more likely to exemplify a higher yield, allowing you to get a bigger bang for your buck. Some strains also flower much quicker than others, often in 8 weeks or less. If you want to really speed up the process, you can look into auto-flowering strains, which flower without you having to regulate light levels in order to trigger blooming.

Feminized Seeds

The “feminization” of the seed will also contribute to the yield of your cannabis seeds because only marijuana that possesses female sexual characteristics will produce potent bud. Natural seeds have a 50/50 chance of being male or female, but seed banks can alter a plant’s genetics to raise the probability for a female phenotype. This ensures that your cannabis plants actually produce the good stuff.

Picking The Right Strain

If you’re a beginner, it’s good to start out with some basic strains that won’t cause a ton of hassle. As you get the hang of it, you can always try some more challenging options. Here are some of our favorite strains to get you started:

• Blue Dream: This extremely popular and potent Californian hybrid is easy to find and easy to grow, as it resists two of the most common cannabis cancers—powdery mildew and root rot. It’s the perfect strain for an outdoor grower living in a subtropical or mediterranean climate.
• Critical Kush: This indica does well in both warm and cold climates, so it will grow properly in many different regions. It’s also known for producing a rather large yield, frequently blooming 24 ounces in one plant. If you’re lucky, your Critical Kush plant could exceed a 2-pound yield.
• Cinex: This potent sativa typically yields 16 ounces per plant for outdoor growers and 19 for indoors, which is relatively high. It’s particularly easy to grow not just because it resists mold and powdery mildew, but also because it’s not overly affected by humidity levels.

How Much Do Marijuana Seeds Cost?

A pack of just regular ol’ marijuana seeds containing 10-12 seeds will usually go for around $40, which is relatively economical, especially if you’re able to produce a solid yield. Genetic alterations like feminization or autoflowering will cause the price to go up, as more effort went into creating them. Some can cost upwards of $1,000 for a pack. If you’re interested in growing top of line bud, you’ll need top of line seeds.