I was just thinking about this today and I’m genuinely curious how do you start?
How do I get genetics to start with? I can’t imagine other breeders are happy if you just buy some of their genetics and breed and resell them, right? Can I just buy some seeds from CSI Humboldt, cross 2 varieties, call it something new, and then start selling seeds? I assume thats probably legally ok, but I would also assume it would get you in deep crap with the community.
What are the legalities? Seeds are legal because of the farm bill. But obviously the seeds have to come from a plant that isn’t federally legal.
Hemp seeds are legal because of the farm bill and even though all cannabis seeds are considered hemp seed based on thc content many areas separate hemp and cannabis licensing.
If your area has no regulations or required licensing regarding hemp sales then you are free to sell seed based on the federal law how ever if you are somewhere like California you are required to have a hemp seed sellers license which comes which a bunch of other requirements or you need to be registered as a cannabis nursery with the state cannabis control program, which also comes with restrictions. It’s around 5k for the nursery license in California and you have to be in a county that allows it and then can only sell within the state.
The risk involved with selling seeds with out the proper licensing in an area that requires it seems to be low atm but that could always change.
For example the us post office allows the mailing of hemp seed with required supporting documents, hardly anybody is doing that and most seeds make it threw how ever if they take them you have no leg to stand on with out the right papers.
In regards to where you get genetics and how to combine them with out upsetting people or disrespecting somebody else’s work there are different routes. Here are a few,
Start with landraces and create something new and unique , pick a couple popular lines and cross them and then stabilize a unique combination of the two.
Unfortunately a lot of people now a days grab a pack of seeds that has some hype around it and cross it to every clone they can get there hands on but that is called pollen chucking and is not viewed as a desirable behavior amongst most who value true breeding efforts.
Either way it will take time to gain a solid reputation and there are many pitfalls and obstacles along the way.
I’ve been collecting, working and storing genetics for twenty plus years and have yet to launch a seed company because for me if I can’t do it 100% on the legit legal path it’s just not worth the stress. I was a black market grower for many years and there is something nice about not looking over your shoulder constantly .
It all depends on your motivation whether it’s money, preserving genetics, creating interesting hybrids, or just enjoy breeding and providing seeds. Places like strainly have a little bit of everything including what I like to call predatory offerings haha… Suckering uninitiated folks into paying like $200 for dj blue seeds with a catchy blueberry title.
You could do like some of the top hits on a Google search for “buy cannabis seeds” do . Buy a bunch of bulk white label seeds and hire a good SEO company .
FYI , this is 90% sarcasm but there’s a lot of truth to it .
It’s legally ok…but do you want to put your name on something that’s half assed poly hybrids with no work behind it? I highly suggest doing the actual work and creating real strains and not adding anymore to the polyhybrid seed pool. Starting the company is easy. Put in the work find some good solid testers with an online presence that will actually log the grows and get them in there hands. Market on instagram, reddit , etc. But be aware as someone speaking from experience, making money in the seed world is nowhere near as easy as some guys and gals make it look.
payment processing
own platform/website
shared platform like strainly
forums/discord
paypal/cashapp/crypto/cash/mail order
seedbanks
growshops
biggest challenge would be standing out in a crowded game of really high availability of broad genetics, even bigger challenge than paperwork and lawyers and accountants. the mechanics of the business are tough, but the product itself massive challenge. there are a lot of really awesome seeds available worldwide commercially, that doesn’t even consider hobby/forum trading and proliferation. also a lot of weak sauce seeds so market cagey on trying out new breeders.
First an example of what I am talking about: the largest indoor grow in this state literally hired the janitor to be the lead grower. They got their financing together, built the place, then “Oh yeah, who knows how to grow this shit?” “Oh the maintenance guy grew some plants in a closet once or something”. The actuall GROWING part was an afterthought. Needless to say, their plants are hideous and their weed is junk.
For some reason, in the canna biz, the skill to actually DO the thing is the last thing people think of…
I say all that to make this point: If you want to be a commercial breeder, first get good at breeding. Make some crosses, grow them, make more. When you are getting good results, start giving away seeds. When the feedback is really good, then start selling.
Plenty of great business-oriented suggestions buy other folks in this thread. I just wanted to make the point that to be a commercial breeder, you need to be a breeder first.
If you are going to keep it legal and pay taxes, I assume you need to also do the paperwork for an LLC or use one the websites where they do it for you.
Years of work with breeding for personal would be the way I’d start. High plant counts to be able to make proper selections not just grow a few plants and cross them with a few others and be limited on making selections. For a home grower that may not be a bad way to start but if you want to be a good breeder you need to increase your plants to select from. Buy seeds from anywhere and then work a line for a while. Make a few crosses, select the ones you like and continue working those. Someone doesn’t just hop into being a commercial breeder year 1 or they shouldn’t anyway. Proper breeding takes times.
First thing you need is good genetics. Good genetics speak for them selves.
You need clone only cuts .
Most modern breeders just get two or three good cuts and cross whatever.
Don’t do that , there are enough cookie polyhybrid strains.
One thing I agree with Reeferman is breeding is about large population selection.
How does this change if you’re not breeding? Essentially just acting as a Seed Bank and purchasing bulk strains from breeders and selling them. Maybe doing some white labeling but showcasing the breeders work. I would think Seeds Here Now isn’t breeding.
Years ago breeders used a lot of skunk and northern lights. They were some of the corner stones of breeding . Now you find alot of strains with og Kush. This good and bad .
A lot of diversity was lost.
In my opinion the future of breeding will involve breeding back some of the diversity found in landrace genes. This will help with bottlenecking.
It’s does not change anything , local laws will dictate what you are able to do. everywhere is different and has various levels of restriction in place.
California law is very detailed and makes it hard to have any grey area , some areas have no hemp sales laws and default to federal but most places are working on passing regulation if they have not already.
If you decide to go with the federal definition that it is hemp seed you need to know the laws surrounding hemp seed sales in your county and state.
If you want to call them drug type cannabis seeds you would then need to know the laws in your state and county surrounding that as well.
If they are not hemp seed they can not cross state lines but if they are hemp seed testing and record keeping is required (not hard to do).
This stuff is hardly being enforced but to be 100%legal is a little complicated.
I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice but is my current understanding of the laws surrounding this issue.
