Are marijuana seeds legal and available online in 2025?

There are some outstanding questions around legal weed seeds. Here are the answers:

• Are marijuana seeds legal? Yes.
• Are marijuana seeds illegal to ship? No.
• Is it legal to buy cannabis seeds? Yes.
• Can you buy cannabis seeds online? Yes.

The DEA on marijuana

In 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed cannabis seeds fall outside the realm of the Controlled Substances Act, regardless of how much THC the plant could eventually yield because the seed itself contains less than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis, thus meeting the legal definition of hemp.

Therefore, according to the DEA on marijuana (or marihuana, as they spell it), legal weed seeds can be purchased online. Per the United States Department of Agriculture, neither hemp nor cannabis seeds are listed on the “Seeds With Special Requirements” or “Prohibited Seeds” listing, as long as the seeds originate and ship from the United States.

Further, the United States Postal Service considers marijuana seeds an acceptable item for shipment. Any other form of cannabis beyond seeds, however, is not allowed.

Can you buy cannabis seeds online?

Take note that being able to buy cannabis seeds online does not automatically translate to your state allowing their cultivation. Where cannabis remains illegal, growing these seeds is against the law. Even within legalized states, variations of legality remain. Some states allow residents to grow a certain number of plants for personal use without having to get a license.

Generally, what is considered commercial cannabis cultivation ranges and does require a license from the state and, at times, local regulatory authorities. As always, understand and keep abreast of the laws in your specific area.

When purchasing cannabis seeds, first establish the answers to these questions:

1. Indica, sativa or hybrid?
2. Which strain?
3. Indoor or outdoor cultivation?
4. Regular marijuana seeds, feminized seeds or autoflowering seeds?
5. How many plants to grow?

Regarding the last point, remember seeds must be germinated before planting, and there is no guarantee. It is best to always plan for a certain percentage of the seeds to fail completely or grow into unviable plants. As a general guideline, assume at least 25% of the seeds planted will not make harvest. To combat this issue, purchase and plant more seeds than you think you will need. An abundance of strong plants can always be culled.

Selling cannabis seeds

For those looking to sell seeds, the market is often described as a high-margin segment, but industry leaders emphasize the significant investments required to sustain these margins.

“You can either grow cannabis flower or cannabis seeds, and while production costs for nutrients and electricity are similar, the yield per square meter varies dramatically,” according to Sergio Martínez, founder of Blimburn Seeds.

Despite these complexities, Blimburn has maintained profitability with a reported gross margin of about 35%, a figure Martínez notes is “necessary to sustain a healthy business without reliance on credit or investors.”

This kind of profitability does come with substantial operational demands and a true commitment to staying competitive. In 2022, the U.S. cannabis seed market was valued at $567.76 million and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.2%, reaching $2.02 billion by 2030, according to Data Bridge Market Research.

Best place to buy cannabis seeds

Where is the best place to buy cannabis seeds? There is no perfect answer. Some in the industry strongly advocate for local sellers, while others prefer reputable seed banks that specialize in seeds. Whoever you decide to buy cannabis seeds from, complete your due diligence and consider ordering from multiple sources.

Here are some tips on good practices:

• Seeds are usually shipped in the breeder’s original packaging, as reputable breeders do not supply bulk cannabis seeds to seed banks for repackaging and distribution.
• Packaging should be crush proof, contain important information about the strain, and often include something to protect the shipment from humidity.
• Discreet packaging should be available upon request.
• Seeds are best to be sent via Priority Mail, as mail sorting machines roll envelopes during handling, leading to crushed seeds.

Grow your cannabis business

Do you have experience with buying seeds online? Comment below! Need insight on growing or breaking into the industry? Attend CannaCon, the nation’s leading business-to-business cannabis conference. Our goal is to grow the cannabis industry by educating cannabis business owners on all things related to cannabis and CBD. CannaCon cannabis trade shows feature a large exhibition hall with exhibitors from around the country, as well as seminars delivered by cannabis industry experts. Find the help you need at CannaCon!

This article was originally published June 28, 2022, and updated May 15, 2023 and Feb. 11, 2025. This article is not intended as legal advice. Check your local laws.