The future of American seed genetics is at risk

Many of you will know that legislation is due to take effect in the United States in November 2026 that could have serious consequences for the future of cannabis and hemp genetics.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been working on something we believe will shape the future of the American seed industry: the launch of the American Seed Innovation & Growth Alliance (ASIGA): a coalition formed to challenge legislative changes scheduled to take effect in November 2026.

We have not spoken publicly about this until now because the work needed to be real first. It is .

ASIGA is now active, properly organised and working with an experienced lobbying and communications team to make the case in Washingt on.

What the fight is about

ASIGA’s position is built around three urgent princi ples:

Innovation.

Genetic diversity.

American leadership.

The law due in November 2026 threatens all three. It risks narrowing the genetic material US breeders can work with, slowing the development of new cultivars, damaging legitimate operators and handing future leadership in hemp and cannabis genetics to other parts of the world.

ASIGA is a broad coalition, spanning industrial hemp, seed genetics and home-grow. Seedsman remains committed to the wider community, to preserving plant knowledge and to protecting the diversity and innovation that this space de pends on.

But in Washington, the case that needs to be made is clear: this is about protecting American science, American jobs and a legitimate American industry.

Attached technical brief

We have attached ASIGA’s two-page, technical brief for anyone who would like to understand the issue in more detail. It explains the specific provision at the heart of the concern — Section 781’s seed exclusion — and why ASIGA believes it creates an unprecedented and unworkable standard by regulating cannabis seeds according to the THC level of the parent plant, rather than the seed itself. The brief sets out the likely consequences for US breeders, seed banks, farmers, patients, interstate commerce and American leadership in genetics, and calls on Congress to act before the 12 November 2026 d eadline.

The Technical brief is just the start of the information we’ll be keeping you up to date with. Coming soon is a full white paper, and if you support the ASIGA organization, you’ll receive regular updates as the campaign progresses, including full access to the white paper once it is released.

View or download the Technical Brief

Why support is needed now

For months, much of this work has been happening quietly: briefings, policy discussions, relationship-building and putting the right information in front of the right people.

That work is now gaining traction — but it needs funding to continue thro ugh to November.

ASIGA has launched a GoFundMe to support its lobbying, legal and communi cations activity.

If you care about the future of seed genetics, plant innovation and protecting this community from damaging legislation, please consider supporting it:

Donate to the ASIGA GoFundMe

Support ASIGA through your Seedsman order

We have also added a dedicated ASIGA support seed option at checkout. If you choose to purchase the “ASIGA seeds” with your order, Seedsman will donate the full value of those seeds to the ASIGA GoFundMe on your behalf. It is a simple way to support the campaign while placing your order, with every dollar helping fund ASIGA’s lobbying, legal and communications work.

We would rather ask for support now, while there is still time to act, than look back later and wish more had been done.

Thank you to everyone who reads, s hares or contributes.

-– The Seedsman Team

28 Likes

Yes…I’ll be working on an order soon.

The way I understand this legislation is…it’s legal for me to grow cannabis however it will be illegal for me to get or receive the seed? Am I correct in that?

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Hey @DoubleA - it depends which state you are in really. You may be able to buy seeds from a local dispensary but you would not be able to buy seeds online from seed sellers like us with much more extensive lists. There is a chance, strangely, that clones will stay legal.

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Okay thank you for the clarity, appreciate that. I feel it’s a back door attempt to close availability and diversity to the cannabis world. For instance in my medicinal garden this year I have strains and genetics from several seed companies to include CBD strains. I would not in all likelihood be able to do this next year. Unless as you stated I wanted to buy clones which are a way more expensive route with limited strain selection.

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Where can I find these promotional seeds? I tried searching the Seedsman retail site and couldn’t find them.

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Hey, when you go through the checkout process they’re available as an additional purchase.

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Thank you!

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Thank you for organizing with this solid group / people to protect our home growing passion!

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How would this affect seed purchases from European countries?

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im saving for a decent order before nov… this administration is nuts

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Strains gonna be bio engineered can’t let big government take over luckily black market will thrive again and some can still get stuff but not everyone has connections or know how…just leave us tf alone

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Good question. I was wondering same thing.

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@RidgeDandy I’m not 100%, but I think the idea is to treat seeds as having the THC% of the mother plant. So importing seeds of high THC cultivars would be treated like importing high THC flower.. St*pid, unmeasurable and hopefully unenforceable :roll_eyes:

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Can you setup a gifting setup where people can add to a wish list and you can gift them what they want after they gift you back with $

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Hey @Glenn

Thanks for the idea — we’ll consider it and see how it might fit into what we can offer in the future.

We appreciate you taking the time to share the suggestion.

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No problems - this is hugely important.

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Yes - seeds will be considered as ‘marijuana’ if they come from a mother plant that is over 0.3% THC. Its a very poorly written bit if legislation that doesnt look like its had much thought put in to it. But if the DEA were to get involved could be pretty scary for seed sellers.

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It’s the f.e.ds stealing the generics control the mass’ and breeders threw legal bills now they’ll buy everything up or take it

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That’s what I was thinking too,eveytime they close a legal door,A black door is made.i support this cause all the way and hope for the best. I’m also a realist. Realistically growers should be making the best preparations now or already started.

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I have to disagree I think they put a lot of thought into it and how to try and keep it monopolized and out of people’s hands. That’s the way the government does it they just start banning things and making things illegal

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