All About Cannabis seeds
The legal status of cannabis seeds can be confusing. Under the Drugs Misuse Act 1971 the cultivating of cannabis seeds is illegal. However, as the seeds do not contain significant levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, it is legal to buy, sell and possess seeds that have not germinated. A private member’s bill proposing the banning of cannabis seeds did get a reading in the House of Commons in 2008, but it failed to gain traction before it ran out of parliamentary time. Successive governments have been reluctant to criminalise cannabis seeds so their legal status seems unlikely to be changed for the foreseeable future. It can appear inconsistent that owning the seeds is acceptable yet growing them is not. However, it should be noted that large scale cannabis growers use cuttings, not seeds, and the seeds actually have a range of legitimate uses.
For example cannabis seeds have traditionally been used as bait by anglers. Boiled before use, they are a particularly effective lure for enticing carp. Birds, both wild and domestic, are also very fond of the seeds. For many years bird feed companies were among the few exempted from the total prohibition of hemp in the United States.
However, cannabis seeds are also fit for human consumption. They are extremely nutritious being a quarter protein and high in vitamins and essential fats such as Omega-3 and Omega-6. When dried and pressed they can also produce oil that is very low in saturated fats. This cannabis seed oil does not fry very well as it has a low smoking temperature, but it makes an excellent dressing. It has a nutty flavour, which is perhaps unsurprising considering that cannabis seeds are technically nuts. Cannabis seed oil has also been widely used in cosmetics as it moisturises the skin well without being greasy.