Cannabis has never been more popular in the United States, with an overwhelming number of Americans expressing support for legalization, according to the Pew Research Center. With some 37 states that have legalized cannabis for medical use and sixteen for recreational purposes, more Americans than ever before are considering growing their own cannabis.
The 2018 farm bill further fuels this increase as it helped dramatically boost cannabis and hemp production in the us. uu. now, demand is higher than ever among Americans looking to grow their own. so where are they headed? most likely the hundreds if not thousands of cannabis seedbanks found online with just a google search.
Seed banks, for the uninitiated, are repositories that store seeds to maintain and propagate genetic diversity. Online cannabis seedbanks provide would-be growers with the seeds they need to start growing cannabis. The problem, however, is that not all of them are reputable, and there is a wide range of overall quality among these providers. so many options can leave beginning growers understandably scratching their heads.
well, that’s where we come in! Today, we’re looking at ten of the best seed banks in the US. uu. citizens, at least in states that have legalized their own cultivation, can request seeds and start producing their own cannabis.
the 10 best cannabis seed banks to buy cannabis seeds online
click here to go directly to the reviews.
classification criteria
To some extent, your choice of cannabis seed bank will depend on whether they have the strains you want to grow. obviously we couldn’t factor that into our rankings as it varies from person to person. instead, we focus on the following equally important factors.
seed quality
Perhaps the most important consideration in our rankings is the quality of the seeds. you need high-quality seeds if you want to maximize your chances of successful germination. high-quality seeds also optimize the quality of your plants, including buds.
satisfaction guarantees
For a seed bank to be considered one of the best options, it must have a satisfaction guarantee. even seed banks with high seed quality will occasionally have lower quality seed. the best ones recognize that this can happen and take steps to fix any issues customers have. Of course, a satisfaction guarantee also shows that the seed bank in question has a high level of confidence in its products.
discreet shipping
Even if cannabis is legal in your state, it may not be legal in the states your package passes through. and there are still some negative connotations and stigma associated with cannabis. therefore, we prioritize seed banks that use discreet packaging. Many of the best seedbanks not only use discreet packaging, but also purposely package it to look like something else, like a DVD case or a toy.
Why trust us?
You should feel comfortable following our advice when it comes to cannabis seed banking. we have been helping cannabis growers find reputable seedbanks online for years. During this time, we’ve reviewed most of the larger and more popular stores, along with many of the smaller ones. We’ve taken the time to thoroughly compare and contrast each one based on the ranking criteria above.
In a nutshell, our rankings are the result of years of knowledge, experience and research, coupled with careful point-by-point comparison.
types of cannabis seeds
autoflowering
Autoflowering seeds will begin to flower after two to four weeks of growth. More importantly, growers do not need to change the lighting schedule to start and continue the flowering phase of growth.
beginner
this refers to seeds that are easy enough to grow for beginners. they tend to be resistant to mold, powdery mildew, disease, and pests.
hemp cbd or cbd
These seeds are for plants legally considered hemp. As such, they have less than 0.3% THC. They tend to be higher in CBD, but that’s not always the case.
fast or rapid flowering varieties
fast strains, fast flowering strains or fast strains reach the flowering stage one to two weeks faster than other strains.
feminized
feminized seeds will only produce female plants. this is important as most growers want female plants for their buds. feminized seeds save you the hassle of growing seeds and then going through them and removing the males.
high cbd
these are strains that have a particularly high concentration of cbd. What each seed bank considers high in CBD varies.
high thc
these are strains with higher than average thc concentrations. As with high CBD strains, the definition of high THC depends on the seed bank.
high performance
high yielding strains produce more buds per square meter. They allow you to get the most buds in the least space.
hybrids
Hybrids have genetics that combine indica and sativa strains.
indicates
One of the two main categories of cannabis strains, indicas tend to have full-body effects. plants tend to be short and stocky, with wide, broad, thick leaves. they grow faster and produce more buds than sativas. They tend to have higher CBD levels without sacrificing THC levels.
inside
These seeds excel in indoor cultivation. they are ideal for anyone looking to grow inside a greenhouse or other space.
low or extra low thc
these are strains with lower levels of thc. remember that what qualifies as “low” or “very low” will vary by seed bank. THC will typically still be above 0.3%; otherwise the plant would be hemp.
mix and match or mixed packs
This refers to when seed banks sell packets of various types of seeds. They are ideal if you want variety in your crop.
outdoors
These seeds flower only when grown outdoors, so they are not ideal for indoor growers. You should only consider them if you have a large outdoor grow space.
photoperiod
Unless otherwise specified, all cannabis seeds are photoperiodic, with autoflowering seeds being a notable exception. photoperiod seeds require you to change the lighting conditions for the seeds to enter and maintain the flowering phase.
regular
Regular cannabis seeds contrast with feminized seeds. They include male and female seeds. this means that you have to grow all the seeds and wait for them to reach the stage where you can tell if they are male or female. then you can remove the males and continue growing the females. however, you must do so promptly, or you risk your female seeds becoming fertilized.
sativa
sativa is the other main category of cannabis strains. they tend to cause a mental high, reducing anxiety or energizing the user. they grow tall and thin, and their leaves are like fingers. They take longer to mature compared to indicas and tend to have less cbd and more thc.
1.) supreme seed: best overall (*August 2022 first pick*)
seed supreme is our top overall pick for a variety of reasons. For one thing, they not only accept cryptocurrencies, like many of the other seedbanks featured here, but even have special discounts for bitcoin. this makes it an attractive option in particular for bitcoin holders as they can save a good amount of money.
In terms of the other usual suspects, seed supreme stands out. If you are specifically looking for autoflowering and feminized seeds, Seed Supreme is the right seedbank for you. the quality is second to none.
advantages
- quality seeds
- discounts (up to 30 percent!) for paying in bitcoin
- variety of above average strains
- loyalty rewards program
cons
- lack of customer service
seeds offered
autoflowering, feminized
2.) I love growing marijuana (ilgm) — runner-up
ilgm is a quality seedbank with a well-earned reputation. In addition to fantastic customer service and a wide variety of seeds to choose from, they also provide tons of sales and discounts while educating customers through an extensive library of growing resources.
As for their seeds, the quality is excellent and, most importantly, backed by a germination guarantee. they have a variety of classic cannabis strains as well as some that you may never have heard of before. When it comes to security, ilgm has an extremely strong reputation and their customer service easily rivals the best out there. in fact, trustpilot has over 4,000 user reviews with an average rating of 4.8/5.
Given ilgm’s reputation, coupled with an extensive collection of the best quality seeds, it wasn’t hard at all to select them at the top of our list. the only real drawback, and it’s a minor one, with ilgm is that it will cost you a pretty penny if you want to track the shipment, as it costs $25 (compared to standard shipping, which is free).
advantages
- monthly offers and promotions
- extremely reputable and highly rated
- germination guarantee (money back)
- discreet packaging
- free standard shipping
- features all popular strains
- growth resources and 24/7 support
cons
- tracked delivery will cost you $25
seeds offered
beginner, high thc, high yield, cbd hemp, autoflowering, indoor, outdoor, sativa, indica
3.) seedsman — best strain overall
Seedsman—true to its name—offers an amazing variety of seeds, many of which are top quality. Whether you’re after feminized seeds, auto-flowering seeds, or rare seed strains, Seedsman will almost certainly have you covered. OG Kush, White Widow, Purple Haze, Girl Scout Cookies—they’ve got all your favorites.
Another nice aspect of seedsman is that they tend to give out a lot of free seeds when you buy in bulk. so if that’s you, you’ll reap some extra seeds by going through seedsman. They also offer worldwide shipping, making them a solid option if you’re outside of the US. uu.
Although seedsman is one of our top picks overall, thanks in particular to its wide variety of seeds, it loses a few points due to its questionable customer service and somewhat clunky website.
advantages
- shipping worldwide
- wide variety of seeds
- free seeds with bulk purchases
cons
- mediocre customer service
seeds offered
autoflowering, feminized, regular, fast varieties
4.) crop king seed: best for international clients
Crop King Seeds gets points for its easy-to-use site—some of its competitors still feature clunky sites, which can be unappealing to the modern cannabis grower, skewing younger every year. Crop King Seeds also wins points for being a beginner-friendly site, with germination guides to help you grow (literally!).
With a wide variety of strains, Crop King has received thousands of positive reviews for their seeds and their reviews are regulated, helping to keep biased or paid reviewers away and showing you who your regular customers are. their reviews frequently indicate high germination rates, 80 to 100 percent.
To help narrow down your choices, use the site’s filters to find what’s best for you. crop king is also reasonable in terms of shipping, at $10 and $30 for regular and express, respectively, plus free shipping on orders over $300.
advantages
- germination rate of 80% or more
- special review system
- germination guides
- helpful infographics
- free shipping for larger orders ($300+)
- global shipping
cons
- no free shipping
- one to two week shipping time is among the slowest
- aimed at beginners, which might put off older growers experienced
seeds offered
feminized, regular, autoflowering, mix and match, cbd
5.) msnl seedbank: best for fastest delivery
MSNL has been in the game for a long time and is definitely among the most reliable seed banks out there. It also offers one of the fastest processing and shipping times, so if you need seeds right away, MSNL should be at the top of your list.
This reputable seedbank also runs regular promotions, saving you some money (especially in the long run). Although they have a wide variety of male and female seeds to order, msnl loses some points due to the lack of a germination guarantee.
One thing that keeps it at the top of our list is its ultra-fast and discreet shipping, which has helped make it one of the most popular seedbanks online. another nice feather in msnl’s cap is the fact that their seeds have won big times and cannabis cups.
advantages
- fast and discreet shipping
- many promotions/free gifts
- wide variety of strains
cons
- mediocre customer service
- no guarantees of germination
seeds offered
autoflowering, feminized, regular, high cbd
6.) Quebec Cannabis Seeds: Best Deals
quebec cannabis seeds is a great seed bank in general, but especially if you live in the usa. USA, as its proximity makes deliveries fast compared to other seedbanks.
While quebec cannabis seeds lack the variety of many of the other seedbanks on this list, they help make up for it in a number of ways, namely fast delivery, incredible discounts, and high-quality seeds. They’re an especially good option if you’re on a budget, as their weekly discounts offer big savings, sometimes as much as 50 percent, though often in the still-excellent 10-25 percent range.
a few more things about this french-canadian seed bank: it has a germination guarantee, but it also has a no return policy, which seems to cancel each other out, and it also allows payment in usd, so you don’t need to do any conversion, but be aware of their 3.8 percent credit card fee.
advantages
- germination guarantees
- weekly discounts
- fast delivery to the us. u.
cons
- no return policy
seeds offered
autoflowering, feminized, outdoor, cbd, mixed packs
7.) Herbs: the best for your comfort
herbies also made our list in large part thanks to the convenient design of their site. it’s really easy to navigate and finding out what’s discounted and what’s highly rated is a piece of cake, thanks to its intuitive color-coded system.
In addition, Herbies also shares many similarities with the other seedbanks listed here in that it has a wide range of top quality seeds. They also have reliably fast processing and shipping, which can be very important when you’re trying to get a grow operation up and running quickly.
Thanks to the herbies site’s ease of navigation, as well as its solid value in terms of variety, quality, and shipping, it easily makes our list of the best online seedbanks overall. Unfortunately, like a lot of online seedbanks, their customer support is seriously lacking.
advantages
- easy to navigate website
- fast and reliable shipping
- premium quality seeds
cons
- weak customer service
seeds offered
autoflowering, feminized, regular, photoperiod, fast flowering, high thc, extra low thx, high yield, high cbd, beginners, indoor, outdoor, indica, sativa
8.) Ministry of Cannabis: Best for Reliability
Ministry of Cannabis is super reliable, which has helped it gain a lot of happy customers, even though it lacks the number of promos offered by many other seed banks. This seed bank tends to attract serious customers because they have a unique feature: rotating seed stocks.
This attention to the freshness of its seed supply helps make ministry of cannabis one of the most trusted seedbanks out there. after all, the last thing anyone wants is to get fake seeds. another feature that helps them earn “best reliability” is their above average customer support.
Overall, ministry of cannabis is a solid choice, even if we would appreciate seeing more promotions offered like many of their competitors. their fresh supply of seeds is probably why they feel they can get away with not having a germination guarantee like many other seedbanks.
advantages
- solid variety
- fresh seed supply
- reliable customer support
cons
- no germination guarantees
- few promotions
seeds offered
feminized, autoflowering, cbd
9.) amsterdam marijuana seeds: best for fast delivery
amsterdam marijuana seeds insists on having the best quality. Although it may lack some of its competitors’ seed varieties, you are guaranteed to receive the highest quality seeds, making it one of the most trusted providers for serious growers.
another aspect that helps you win the “best delivery guarantee” is the fact that customers have claimed that their orders were guaranteed, even if their packages were confiscated by customs. this helps make up for the fact that amsterdam cannabis seeds have one of the slowest shipping speeds on this list. though this hurts a little less if you’re on a tight budget, since shipping is free.
advantages
- free shipping
- highest quality seeds
- guaranteed orders
cons
- slow shipping speeds
seeds offered
autoflowering, feminized, indoor, outdoor, high cbd, high thc, indica, sativa, hybrids
10.) weed seeds express: the best new bank
every industry has its promises and over time some of them even manage to supplant the older and better established companies. weed seeds express could accomplish this difficult feat.
why? because they are proving to be one of the most reliable online seedbanks, with fast, discreet shipping and a huge variety of high quality seeds. They also ship worldwide and have many promotions.
The only thing keeping cannabis seeds from taking one of our top spots is the fact that they are truly new to the industry. As long as you continue to do what you’re doing, you’ll no doubt establish a great reputation and continue to grow (yes, the pun is intended).
advantages
- frequent promotions
- stealth shipping worldwide
- premium quality seeds
cons
- new on the block
seeds offered
autoflowering, feminized, high cbd
cannabis seed bank frequently asked questions
Q: Is it illegal to buy cannabis seeds in the US? A: Yes and no. that just depends on where you are! since each state has its own specific laws, and cannabis has yet to be fully decriminalized/legalized at the federal level (although it seems more likely than ever), it depends on your specific state. That said, seedbanks often use outdated law to help them get past legal hurdles and conduct their business. this essentially works by framing the seeds as souvenirs or as fish bait/bird food. you can see disclaimers about this on their websites.
Q: Which seedbanks have the best genetics? A: The award here goes to seedbanks that have built a great reputation for offering seeds of high quality: seedsman, crop king seeds and amsterdam seeds. these banks apparently test their seeds to ensure that the strains are of the highest quality. stick to these three if buying high-quality seeds is your top preference.
Q: Does it matter how I pay for my seeds? a: Again, it depends. Many seed banks actually offer discounts for crypto payments due to the discreet and decentralized nature of how cryptocurrency transactions work. While most accept credit cards, giving you some protection through your credit card company, many have a strong preference for cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. two that offer discounts for bitcoin payments are seed supreme and i love growing weed. With these two, you can definitely add up to solid savings, assuming the bitcoin price doesn’t skyrocket one day (clearly, this is another factor in many seedbanks accepting bitcoin).
q: what is “stealth shipping” and why should i care? a: the last thing anyone wants is to have problems with their order in terms of customs /government intervention. as such, it is good to order from a seed bank that guarantees discreet shipping. A common method is to include other inexpensive items with the seeds, such as DVD cases. this helps make the package look less suspicious. Another way to keep a low profile is to resist the temptation of expedited delivery or a delivery option that requires your signature.
q: which seedbanks offer worldwide shipping? a: weed seeds express, seedsman and crop king seeds. These should be your first choices if you live outside of the US. uu.
tips for using a cannabis seed bank
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your seedbank buying experience:
- browse several different sites so you can take advantage of any special promotions that may be going on.
- check to make sure the site has the payment option you prefer. use (particularly if you’re looking to pay via cryptocurrency).
- make sure they ship to your country/state.
- check to see if there’s a “germination guarantee” and, if No if you don’t have one, research their return and customer service policies. you want to make sure you protect yourself as best you can.
summarizing
We have carefully compiled this list to ensure that you make your cannabis seed purchases safe and secure and do not get scammed. so any of these should work fine. Ultimately, it all comes down to your specific preferences, eg shipping time, location, payment method, reliability, seed variety, etc. keep this in mind so you can make the best decision for you.
That said, you can’t go wrong with one of the more established seedbanks like i love grow marijuana or msnl seedbank.
No matter what you choose, happy growing up!