Cannabis growers in Australia are in a tricky situation, as Australian seed banks are not allowed to sell seeds, and any that do are quickly shut down.
Most international seed banks have also stopped shipping seeds to Oz, as Australian customs is so good at intercepting packages.
However, not all hope is lost, as there are a few reliable seed banks that still ship to Australia.
Spoiler Alert! We're one of them :)
In this article, we'll look at why there are no good seed banks in Australia and what to look for from a seed bank that still ships to Australia.
Why are there no seed banks in Australia?
There are no open cannabis seed banks in Australia right now because, in most States, growing weed is still illegal.
Medical marijuana is allowed in some cases, but there are tight rules around who can grow it. Regular people aren't allowed to grow cannabis plants at home.
Even as public opinion comes around more to legalizing marijuana, politicians are still pretty cautious and conservative about it. So, for now, running a shop that openly sells cannabis seeds is too legally dodgy for most businesses to try in Australia.
Some argue this just pushes seed sales underground when we could have a properly regulated industry. But Australia isn't yet at the point of opening up legal seed banks. The laws need to relax more before that can happen.
The dangers of buying underground cannabis seeds in Australia
If you take a quick look online, you'll see lots of people recommending buying cannabis from various Instagram or Telegram accounts.
Although this might be tempting, it's a really bad idea.
These social accounts are operating outside the law, so they are much more likely to rip you off. There are numerous stories of seeds not being delivered and getting ghosted.
Just don't do it.
You're much better off buying your seeds from a trusted European seed bank like WeedSeedsExpress, which ships to Australia and offers guarantees and excellent customer support.
Why buy your Seeds from WeedSeedsExpress?
Our advice is to buy from a reputable seed bank that ships to Australia.
Here are some advantages of doing this:
1. Our Seed Bank Still Ships To Australia
Most international seed banks have stopped shipping to Australia because so many packages were getting lost. This was costing seed banks a lot of money, so they simply stopped shipping to Australia.
However, we value our Ozzy customers and have made several changes to our shipping process to ensure that our packages reach Australia more often than not. If your package does get stopped, we'll send it again.
2. Guarantees
A cannabis seed seller who is confident in their process will be able to offer guarantees in terms of their shipping and how fast orders are processed.
There are many shipping methods out there, but cutting corners will not be an option for a reputable seed bank. Instead, they will guarantee delivery. For example, we have a comprehensive delivery guarantee at WeedSeedsExpress.
As a customer, you get peace of mind knowing that the seeds will arrive, and you can track and trace the package while it’s in transit.
3. Genetic quality
When you're growing weed, starting with good seeds is so important.
Getting quality genetics gives your plants a big head start to grow happy and produce nice buds. While stuff like your soil, lighting, and other factors matter down the line, the seed is where it all begins. This makes or breaks the quality of your final product way later.
All of our cannabis seeds come from expert European breeders and are carefully tested to ensure quality.
If you buy your seeds from random social media accounts, you are taking a big chance on the quality of your seeds and potentially wasting your time.
4. Customer support
This is another area where reputable seed banks shine.
Check how responsive their customer support department is. Are they available to answer questions before and after you buy? What happens if there’s a mistake in the order? What’s their return policy? Can you reach out to them on social media?
Remember that the point of customer support is precisely that: being supported when you need it. It’s a real dealbreaker for every business, no matter what they’re selling.
5. Reviews and customer experiences
Reviews and customer experience ratings play a determining role for many buyers. Testimonials have become so important that many people will check them first and won’t go ahead with a purchase if the reviews aren’t stellar.
Our recommendation is to take a look at the seed bank’s website to find real reviews from real people. If you live in Australia, it’s a good idea to look for customers who are also in that country and who have already had a good experience. Even better, try to look for reviews from customers who are in the same state you’re in.
And don’t forget to check third-party sites for reviews. That means going outside a seed bank’s website and checking other sites to see what customers are saying. Some suggestions include Trustpilot, general review or comparison websites, and online forums.
6. Payment methods
The different payment methods offered by a seed bank may not be the first thing that people look at when comparing different options. But this factor plays an important role in determining from which seed bank to buy seeds.
For example, some payment methods take longer to process than others. A seed bank can’t start preparing your order for shipping until payment has cleared, so choosing the right payment matters to the overall waiting time.
Fees are another issue to consider. Some seed banks charge a processing fee regardless of the method used. In other cases, it will be your bank that charges you for the transaction or for conversion fees. This is especially important in international payments where different currencies are involved. This information should be clearly explained in the relevant website section.
Generally speaking, you want to have a wide range of payment methods available.
7. Stealth shipping
Never underestimate the importance of stealth shipping. This can really make all the difference in whether your seeds arrive or not. You want to buy from a seed bank that mails your order in discreet packaging. If the seeds package is too obvious, they will be retained and destroyed by over-zealous Australian customs.
So double check that when your seeds are mailed there’s no mention of a seed bank or a description of the content, they’re sent in a generic envelope, without labels, invoices, logos, or anything that can tip off customs.
What is the best seed bank to use in Australia?
Below is an overview of reputable seed banks that ship to Australia. For each seed bank, you will see the main points of interest and important information.
Update: Unfortunately, our dear fellow seed bank ILGM is not shipping seeds to Australia at this time.
| Weedseedsexpress | Herbies Headshop | CropKing | ILGM | |
| Free Shipping | From 100 AUD | No option | From 420 AUD | don't ship to Australia |
| Standard delivery | 10 - 26 days | 33 - 37 days | 7-25 days | - |
| Express delivery | 5 - 10 days | No option | No option | - |
| Free seeds | 20% | 1 seed per 20 AUD | No | - |
| Guaranteed delivery | Yes | Yes | No | - |
| Guaranteed germination | Yes | Yes | No | - |
| Convenient payment methods | Yes | Yes | No | - |
| Shipping to PO box | Yes | No | No | - |
| Customer support | Quick | Medium - Quick | Slow | - |
| Seed prices | Medium | Medium | Medium-high | - |
Tips and things to consider when buying from a seed bank that ships to Australia
1. Plan ahead
As a grower, you want to plan ahead to make sure you don’t miss the growing season. Our advice is to get some variety in your order, for example, getting a mix of feminised seeds and autoflowering seeds if you’re coming close to the end of the planting season and need to harvest fast.
Also, take into account standard delivery times. It’s always wise to add some extra time now that many postal systems and courier companies have significant delays due to the pandemic.
2. Purchase small quantities first
Yes, it’s very tempting to keep adding seeds to your shopping basket and end up placing a big order, but if this is your first time buying from a seed bank, do a test run first. This allows you to see 1) If the seeds arrive safely, and 2) Give you some time to plant them and see how well they do.
Once you’re satisfied with this, you can place a larger order since the quality and shipping times are likely to stay reliable.
3. Spread your purchases
As a tip, you can choose to buy from at least two seed banks to spread your purchases. If, for some unlucky reason, one of the packages ends up being confiscated, you will still have another package of seeds coming in. Moreover, buying from different seed banks also allows you to try the process by yourself and then decide which company you want to keep ordering from.
Looking for the most reliable seed bank that ships to Australia? WeedSeedsExpress delivers!
We know exactly what you’re keen on and how to make sure you receive it no matter where in Australia you are. Our shipments are guaranteed, as is the genetic quality of our cannabis seeds. And whenever you have a question, our customer support team is here to help.
