Is it Legal to Buy Cannabis Seeds in the US?
The short answer is yes. As a seed, cannabis is not considered a drug, making it legal to buy and own cannabis seeds throughout the United States. The laws start to get a bit hazy when the germination process begins. In the United States, marijuana for any purpose is illegal at a federal level. Marijuana is classified as cannabis that contains over 0.3% THC. As of 2021, 36 states have legalized medical and/or recreational use of marijuana. Cannabis-derived from hemp that contains less than 0.3% THC is federally legal across all 50 states. Currently, 18 states have approved home growing of cannabis for personal use, nine of which require a medical registration.
Where To Buy Cannabis Seeds
In states where cannabis is legal, you can buy seeds at a local dispensary or online from seed banks that ship them to the USA. Seed banks typically offer a larger selection. The best seed banks have an established track record of providing high-quality seeds that produce as expected. It’s also a good idea to go with a seed bank that offers a delivery guarantee. Things can get complicated during shipping, especially when shipped internationally. The best cannabis seed banks usually offer free replacements if the package doesn’t make it to its destination.
How To Identify Quality Cannabis Seeds
The quality of your seeds has a direct impact on the quality of your harvest. The most viable seeds are brown, tan, or even black with a hard outer shell and smooth, uncracked surface. An easy way to test the quality of a seed is the “float test”. Drop a seed in distilled water to see if it sinks. If it does, it has a better chance of germinating than a seed that floats.
What’s the Difference Between Regular, Feminized, and Auto-Flower Seeds?
A package of regular seeds will be a mixture of males and females. You will need to sex out the seeds during the flowering phase to discard the males. Feminized seeds are guaranteed to produce buds without running the risk of a male seed sneaking into your crop, turning your sweet buds into seeds. Auto-flower seeds automatically switch from the vegetative state to the flowering stage based on age instead of light, offering a shorter grow cycle with less maintenance.
Now that you know a bit more before you grow, it’s time to find the best seed bank to produce the crop of your dreams.
#1 I Love Growing Marijuana
If you’ve been into the buds for some time, you’ve no doubt heard the name I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM for short). Located in Amsterdam and California, ILGM came on to the scene in 2012 as a blog chock-full of cannabis education as a way for the founder, Robert Bergman, to share his decades of professional growing experience. After requests for buying seeds came pouring in, ILGM partnered with top breeders and quickly earned its place among the best seed banks. The strain selection is small for a reason—quality over quantity. You still get to select from close to 100 hand-selected strains, all backed by a germination and delivery guarantee. The company also offers a variety of payment options, including bitcoin, credit card, bank transfers, or cash as payment. While the price tag runs a little higher compared to other seed banks, the seed quality and guaranteed germination make it worth every penny.
I Love Growing Marijuana Pros & Cons
- 100% germination guarantee
- Free and fast shipping
- Discrete delivery options
- Limited selection of strains
- $25 to track shipments
- Expensive compared to other vendors
#2 Crop King Seeds
Located in Vancouver, Canada, Crop King Seeds has been perfecting cannabis plant genetics for over 15 years. From classic strains to new age hybrids, there are seeds for every stage of a grower’s journey. All seeds are inspected, tested, and handpicked to be mature and viable to offer an 80% germination guarantee. If your seeds fail to germinate, the company will send you a new package. Crop King Seeds is widely regarded as one of the best seed banks in the industry for engineering every strain in-house to deliver maximum THC levels and harvest size. This company also takes customer service to a whole other level. Not only do they offer plenty of contact methods, but they also have a 24/7 live chat that instantly connects you with a representative. You will pay a little more to get this level of quality and service. We would like to see some free shipping options that don’t require you to spend $400.
Crop King Seeds Pros & Cons
- 24/7 live chat support
- 400+ seed variations
- 80% germination guarantee
- Limited stock selection
- $200 to get free shipping
- Limited payment methods
#3 Seedsman
Founded in 2003, Seedsman is based in the UK and considered to be one of the most trustworthy seed banks that ship to the USA. Seedsman offers a range of the most affordable seeds without sacrificing quality. On top of selling their brand of cannabis seed, the company stocks 1500 strains from over 65 of the best seed banks from every corner of the globe. The list of brands they stock is extensive; some of the highlights are Sensi Seeds, Royal Queen Seeds, Serious Seeds, DNA Genetics, and Cali Connection. The loyalty program has been on a hiatus since 2019, but Seedsman offers a 25% discount to purchases made using bitcoin, and free seeds come with every order over $30. Even though this company is turning out quality seeds, there is no germination guarantee. Some customers report getting half their purchase refunded or free seeds as a solution.
Seedsman Pros & Cons
- Cryptocurrency payment options
- Regular promotions
- Large selection of strains
- Limited germination guarantee
- Hard to reach customer service
- Must pay for delivery guarantee
#4 Gorilla Seeds
Gorilla Seeds bank was established in 2011 by founders that have over 40 years of cannabis experience. They offer a large selection of more than 2500 popular strains from 60 growers, including some favorites like Barney’s Farm, Ace Seeds, Big Buddha Seeds, and DNA Genetics. They sell quality seeds at costs that are up to 30% lower than the competition. There is no germination guarantee, but most customers have reported successful yields. Gorilla Seeds uses plain packaging for all shipments, but customers must pay extra for a delivery guarantee and additional stealth packaging options. As a bonus, every package includes free seeds. Even with some of the lowest prices on the market, the company offers regular sales and discounts. Shipping time is pretty average. International customers should expect to wait about 25 days to receive their seeds. Customer service representatives are always friendly and ready to help you with your issue by phone, email, or through a support ticket.
Gorilla Seeds Pros & Cons
- Reliable customer service
- Discrete delivery options
- Large selection of strains
- No germination guarantee
- Cannot buy regular seeds
- Must pay for delivery guarantee
#5 Herbies Seeds
Herbies Seeds, also known by its original name, Herbies Head Shop, earned its spot among the best seed banks with a track record for high germination rates and excellent customer service. Founded in the late 2000s, the company has expanded its enormous inventory to offer over 2000 strains sourced from 120 top-quality breeders. All seeds are stored in a temperature-controlled environment until they are ready for shipping, and a quality-control manager inspects every order before it leaves the warehouse. Herbies Seeds doesn’t offer a germination guarantee, but if you are not satisfied with the germination results, you can request a replacement for defective seeds within 60 days of receiving your purchase. Seed prices do run rather high, but the price per seed drops a little when you buy larger quantities. Shipping to the USA will take about 5-8 days. All orders come with free cannabis seeds.
Herbies Seeds Pros & Cons
- Reliable customer service
- Fast shipping
- Free seeds with every order
- Seeds are not hand-selected
- No germination guarantee
- Lack of in-stock inventory
#6 SeedSupreme
Whether you’re hunting for the highest THC strains, quality landrace strains, feminized or auto-flowering seeds, SeedSupreme will hook you up. Located in England, SeedSupreme got its start in 2013, quickly gaining popularity as one of the best seed banks with extensive inventories. This cannabis cornucopia is filled to the brim with over 4000 cannabis strains from legendary international breeders, such as Sensi Seeds, DNA Genetics, and Nirvana Seeds, to name a few. SeedSupreme utilizes industry-standard discreet shipping methods, using plain, unmarked packaging without indication of the company name or contents. It takes approximately 15 to 30 days for orders to reach their US destination, and you need to pay extra for a delivery guarantee. While SeedSupreme has plenty of satisfied customers reporting successful crops, seed quality issues are common. Reviews also indicate that customer support is inconsistent and lacks solutions to make up for lost or dud seeds.
SeedSupreme Pros & Cons
- Offers free seeds
- Regular discounts and rewards
- 4000+ strains
- Must pay for delivery guarantee
- Limited payment options
- No germination guarantee
#7 Marijuana Seeds NL
Based in the UK, Marijuana Seeds NL (MSNL) has been growing a devoted following since 1999 as one of the best cannabis seed banks. This seed bank doubles as a breeder that produces all of the seeds they sell. Strains are collected from all over the world and brought to the MSNL lab for testing and experimental hybridization. They use rigorous testing methods to ensure that all strains produce quality, consistent yields. From first-time growers to experienced cultivators, you will find your seed soulmate in the comprehensive catalog crafted from first-rate, stabilized seed genetics. Some of their best-selling strains include Girl Scout Cookies, THC Bomb, White Widow Max, and Blue Dream. Their affordable prices are perfectly accented with regular discounts that range from 20% to 50%. They have a robust FAQ section and responsive customer service to help resolve any growing issues you come across.
Marijuana Seeds NL Pros & Cons
- Affordable prices
- Free seeds with every order
- Produces all seeds in-house
- No germination guarantee
- Must pay for stealth shipping and delivery guarantee
- Limited strain options
Planting Seeds Of Success
We’ll say it once, and we’ll say it a million times—the quality of your crop starts with quality seeds. Even with an impressive set-up, crossing your fingers and hoping that your mystery seeds will turn into beautiful buds will likely plant you in a world of disappointment. Luckily, the best seed banks on this list won’t let you or your crop down. While we consider these companies our favorite seed banks, a few notable brands not featured are True North, Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds, Attitude Seeds, and WeedSeedsExpress.
