Check the law first

Two federal rules cover this market. Hemp, defined as Cannabis sativa L. with delta-9 THC at or below 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis, is exempt from the Controlled Substances Act under the 2018 Farm Bill. That definition includes seeds. Cannabis above the 0.3 percent threshold, and its seeds, stay Schedule I.

Germination is a state question. Rules differ by state. A seller can ship a seed into a state where planting it is not allowed. Read your state agriculture department page before you pay.

Seeds hold oil, protein, and fiber. They do not hold CBD at amounts that matter for a product. CBD comes from hemp flower and leaves. If a listing claims milligrams of CBD per seed, treat that as a warning sign.

Parameters to verify

  • Delta-9 THC result on a certificate of analysis (COA) from an ISO 17025 lab
  • Lot number and test date tied to the pack you receive
  • Species name, written as Cannabis sativa L.
  • Seed count per pack
  • Germination rate from the lot test, in percent
  • Storage at the seller: dark, 6 to 8 percent moisture, 4 to 8 C
  • Shipping states and refund terms

Cost factors

Retail packs run from 10 seeds to 1,000 seeds. Price per seed depends on variety, feminization, and test data. Certified field seed sells by weight, and buyers ask for a per-pound quote with a THC test attached. Ask for a written price and a ship date. Prices move with the harvest, so a fixed number in a guide goes stale. Get a quote.

Pitfalls

  1. No COA, or a COA with no lab name and no sample date
  2. CBD content claimed on a seed listing
  3. Terms like guaranteed female with no test data behind them
  4. No lot number, which means no traceability
  5. Wire transfer as the single payment method, with no refund policy
  6. Sellers that do not state which states they ship to

Questions for the seller

  • Which lab tested this lot, and what is its accreditation number?
  • What is the delta-9 THC result, in percent?
  • What is the germination rate on the test report?
  • What happens if the pack arrives crushed?

Where CBD comes in

This store sells CBD. CBD comes from hemp extracts, not from seed. Buy CBD with a batch COA that lists cannabinoid content and shows a passing panel for pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents. The FDA has approved one CBD drug and states that CBD cannot be added to food or sold as a dietary supplement.