Why Can’t I Get Cannabis Seeds in Dispensaries?
By Jeff Eckenrode
Image credit: Cristi Ursea
Quick Answer: In Washington state, cannabis dispensaries like Hashtag cannot sell seeds due to strict state regulations that reserve seed sales for licensed cultivators only. Federal law and disconnected supply chains also make seed sales risky and impractical for most dispensaries.
Image credit: GreenForce Staffing
Have you ever walked into a cannabis dispensary hoping to pick up a few seeds to start your own cannabis garden but walked out confused or disappointed?
If you have then you’re not alone.
Despite the growing acceptance of cannabis cultivation at home and the expanding legal cannabis market, cannabis seeds are still surprisingly difficult to find in dispensaries.
But why is that?
Here we cover a few of the reasons behind the scarcity of cannabis seeds at your local cannabis dispensary.
Image credit: Markus Spiske
1. Seed Sales Are Heavily Regulated in Marijuana Dispensaries
Even in states like Washington where cannabis is legal for adult recreational and medical use, the sale of seeds is subject to a completely different set of rules than the sale of flower products, vapes or edibles.
Some states allow adults to grow their own plants, but limit where and how cannabis seeds can be sold—often excluding dispensaries entirely.
In Washington state, only licensed cultivators can possess or sell seeds, and dispensaries are not authorized to carry them.
Image credit: Roberto Valdivia
2. Federal Law Still Complicates Things for Cannabis
Even though cannabis is legal at the state level in many places, it remains a Schedule I controlled substance under U.S. federal law. This causes confusion when it comes to seeds, which are technically cannabis, but can also be classified as agricultural products (especially if they haven’t been germinated).
Some seed companies operate in a legal gray area by shipping “souvenir” seeds or labeling them as novelty items.
For dispensaries, which are already under intense scrutiny and operate under tight regulations, carrying seeds is simply not a risk not worth taking.
Image credit: Mika Baumeister
3. Supply Chains for Marijuana Seeds Are Different
Dispensaries like Hashtag work with state-licensed producers and processors who supply them with cannabis flower, edibles, vapes, and concentrates.
Seeds, on the other hand, typically come from specialized breeders or seed banks, many of which operate independently of state regulalors or operate internationally.
Since many of these breeders aren't part of a state’s licensed cannabis system, dispensaries in Washington state can’t legally purchase or resell their seeds.
That disconnect between the cultivation world and the retail world keeps seeds off many dispensary shelves, including Hashtag’s.
Image credit: Bhaumik Kaji
4. Cannabis Seeds are a Niche Market—For Now
While interest in home growing is definitely on the rise, the majority of cannabis consumers still prefer to buy ready-to-use products.
Instead, successful dispensaries like Hashtag focus on stocking what sells customers want quickly and consistently—products like flower, vapes, and edibles.
Want to learn more about cannabis?
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