D.C. Cannabis campaign to host marijuana seed exchange

It’s only natural the District would see an increased interest in horticulture after it became legal last month to grow marijuana plants. But with the sale of marijuana still illegal, those budding green thumbs have a problem: where to get marijuana seeds?

By hosting two seed exchanges this month, the D.C. Cannabis Campaign hopes to help.

“This will be D.C. residents’ opportunity to share seeds with other adults and start down the path of legally growing your own cannabis in the safety and privacy of your home,” the campaign announced Thursday.

Judging by the RSVPs for the event, there’s high demand. By Friday, more than 340 people had signed up for the two events, being held March 26 at the Northwest D.C. absinthe bar Libertine and March 28 and at the campaign’s headquarters.

A ballot initiative passed by 70 percent of D.C. voters took effect in February, allowing people to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, smoke and grow marijuana on their private property and to transfer up to 1 ounce to others. Buying and selling marijuana, or smoking it in public, remains a criminal offense.

Adam Eidinger, chairman of the campaign that got the legalization issue on the November ballot, said his group will facilitate the exchange of seeds but will not be giving away any. He estimates that so far there’s a 30-1 ratio of people who have signed up for the event and are looking for seeds compared to those who are giving them away.

Legality issues of purchasing marijuana aside, it’s difficult to find seeds to start a harvest because “good marijuana doesn’t have seeds,” Mr. Eidinger said.

On the day legalization took effect, Mr. Eidinger invited media to watch him plant several marijuana seeds. He says four of the six seeds he planted have already sprouted.

A flier for the events warns attendees not to bring more than 2 ounces of marijuana or seeds with them to the event so that they don’t run afoul of the law, not to exchange any money at the events, and that participants must be 21 years or older.