Are cannabis seeds legal to posses but not germinate in the US?

This seems like a silly question to me so I am posting it here in newbie central: Are cannabis seeds legal to posses under Federal law as long as they are not germinated?

I know that is the case in the UK and Canada which is why they can sell them, but I did not believe that to the case in the US. Someone was arguing with me the other day that is was the case so I was looking into it. I found sites that showed the various possession level charges and jail time with each, but I could not find any page/site where it specifically lists seeds as illegal and what kind of time you are looking for possession.

...to those who do not have a doctors recommendation it is illegal. therefore if you reside in a state that marijuana is medically legal then you can have and germinate(to the specified limit)...

Sorry, let me be more specific. Can you provide with a link or Fereral code specifically? I need something I can print off and show my friend before they end up in prison.

Or, is it possible that they are legal and this is why nobody ever goes to jail for ordering seeds?

Marijuana as defined by US law:
"Marijuana means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin.
It does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination."
http://www.1stmarijuanagrowerspage.com/marijuana-laws-marijuana-seeds-ordering.html

taipanspunk said:

...to those who do not have a doctors recommendation it is illegal. therefore if you reside in a state that marijuana is medically legal then you can have and germinate(to the specified limit)...

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you are only partially correct. given that there are no other factors and involvements.

westmich said:

Sorry, let me be more specific. Can you provide with a link or Fereral code specifically? I need something I can print off and show my friend before they end up in prison.



you are on the right track and knowledge is power (at least for yourself cause you demand it which is good). being involved in this whether legal or not, is serious business. alot of newbies and others just believe the hype without careful research, so they don't know what they are risking. anyways this is the federal code you are looking for. somewhere in this long list lies your answer. it will also have other nuggets of info that should be very helpful should you know how to use and understand them. this link is straight from the source so its important to know that because other websites that alot of people just google, copy, and paste, which only state certain abstractions of a certain code or laws and therefore does not represent whole story.


http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/21C13.txt

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If you buy some seeds from a website, you aren't going to prison if caught in the united states. (Unless you have many priors)

i.e.)

Police: We opened this package and found you ordered seeds!

You: I didnt order seeds?

Police: Your credit card was used, shipped to this address.

You: My card has been stolen etc~

taipanspunk said:

...to those who do not have a doctors recommendation it is illegal. therefore if you reside in a state that marijuana is medically legal then you can have and germinate(to the specified limit)...

Click to expand...

i don't think that this statement is correct at all.. even if a dr gives you a recomendation to grow your own pot, he is still breaking federal laws by prescribing an illegal substance to you.. regardless of what your state laws may state, the possession of cannabis in any form is still very much illegal..
i've gotten my seeds caught up in customs, and i never recieved a letter from them asking me if i had a medical card to posses such seeds ... why, you ask? because it doesn't matter, as its still against the federal law to possess such things..

Thanks for the help - especially cooknsmoke.

My friend is/was gearing up to just openly sell seeds because they have it stuck in their head that it is legal to do so as long as they are not germinated - not correct.

Racer - doctors don't prescribe pot, they recommend it which is an exercise of their first admendment rights.

Well your from michigan so if you have a card it is legal in the state but your right its not federally legal, they can openly sell seeds in michigan and it would be highly unlikely for them to get in trouble for that, there is businesses that sell seeds right now I can drive ~5 miles from my house in either direction and buy subcool seeds or whatever. If they are mailing them out of state then they would be asking for it however, selling them in the state is fine but dont expect to make any real profits cause everyone and their mom has seeds and clones locally. In southeast michigan you can not drive 5 miles anymore without passing a dispensary/hydro store/compassion club and all three of these types of establishments sell seeds and/or clones. Again it is still federally illegal and the feds are about to start hitting commercial places like that up for cash soon, I wouldn't advise anyone sell marijuana or marijuana related items until the threat from the feds is lowered again - it is starting to get hot - conclusion: Not worth it unless you already own a grow shop or dispensary! even then it would just be to keep your customers happy and would likely net little profit if any as most people don't need another source for genetics.