Cannabis Seeds in New South Wales
Australia’s cannabis laws vary by state, but in New South Wales possession, cultivation, and recreational use of cannabis remain criminal offenses. Although New South Wales was one of the country’s first states to legalize medical marijuana for use by patients with certain qualifying conditions, recreational use is still illegal. However, it’s perfectly fine for adults to buy and possess cannabis seeds in New South Wales if they do not use them for cultivation.
Medical Marijuana in New South Wales
Since 2013, medical marijuana patients and their caregivers have been legally allowed to possess up to 15 grams of marijuana. Before beginning to buy and use products containing THC or CBD, patients must head to a doctor to get an official diagnosis. Patients with the following conditions may be eligible for a medical marijuana card in New South Wales:
- Chronic Pain
- Neuropathic Pain
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Cancer
- IBS
- Migraines
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Anorexia
- Chronic Insomnia
- Terminal Illnesses
Cultivating Medical Marijuana
Only growers who are licensed by the federal government can grow medical marijuana in New South Wales. License-holders can only grow cannabis for medical use and must follow strict regulations regarding the location, facilities, and security aspects of their operation. Before obtaining a growing license, future cultivators must also prove that they have not been convicted of a serious crime within the past decade.
Penalties for Illegal Grows
New South Wales imposes substantial penalties for illegal cultivation. Even purchasing or owning instructions for how to grow cannabis without a license can land Australians in substantial legal trouble, including fines of up to $2,200 and prison terms of up to two years.
Illegal growers tried in local courts may be fined up to $5,500 and/or jailed for up to two years for growing up to five plants. Growing between 6 and 249 plants increases the fine to $11,000, while growing 250 plants or more is considered a serious crime that is dealt with by district court officials.
Penalties for offenders tried in district courts are strict. Unlicensed individuals caught cultivating 250 plants or fewer can leave offenders facing fines of $220,000 and jail time for up to 10 years. Those found in possession of between 250 and 1,000 plants may face penalties of between $385,000 and $550,000 with up to 15 to 20 years in jail. Cultivating more than 1,000 plants can land growers in jail for life.
So, given the extreme implications of illegal cultivation, it’s absolutely necessary to obtain a valid license prior to starting to cultivate marijuana in this state.
Climate Concerns
Already have a license or just want to learn about how marijuana is grown in New South Wales? Different parts of the state exhibit different climate patterns but the majority of New South Wales has a subtropical climate with four seasons. The easternmost part of the state has a more temperate climate, while the central coast experiences high humidity levels and the southern coast has cooler temperatures.
What the differences in climate mean for growers is that the conditions in Ballina are substantially different from those in Wagga Wagga, and Newcastle growers need to take different precautions against bud rot than inland growers in Broken Hill. Just make sure to get a feel for the area’s unique climate prior to planning a grow or buying seeds.
Types of Cannabis Seeds
There are a few different types of cannabis seeds so it’s important to choose the right ones. Regular cannabis seeds are untreated and are typically organic. They’re not great for novice growers, though, since they require a full growing season and require cultivators to identify and remove all male plants if they want to end up with usable products.
Feminized seeds are easier to grow. They have been treated naturally to ensure that all the plants will be female, which removes the need for identifying male plants and their troublesome pollen sacs. Feminized photoperiod seeds still require a full growing season.
Auto-flowering seeds can be also be feminized. They offer a few advantages over regular seeds, including a much shorter growing season. Instead of waiting until the light conditions are right for flowering, Auto-flowering plants begin to produce buds after a predetermined amount of time, typically around three months.
Auto-flowering plants tend to be smaller at maturity than regular cannabis plants, which makes them perfect for indoor grows. Growing indoors also removes climate constraints, but it requires a substantial investment in equipment such as grow lights and growing media. Those concerned about legality should also note that indoor grow equipment is considered paraphernalia and getting caught with it almost always leads to arrest.
Choosing Strains
Once growers have decided what kind of seeds they want to buy, they’ll need to purchase them from a reliable supplier like i49seeds.net. Online seed banks carry a wide array of strains, including Indicas, Sativas, Fast Flowering, automatic flowering, high-CBD, and hybrid seeds. Hybrids tend to be more resilient to pests, disease, and climate variations, which makes them a good choice for novice growers.
After getting the basics down, growers can move on to try more specialized Indica or Sativa strains. Medical patients should experiment with different types of marijuana to decide which one is best for them.
Medical cannabis cultivators are often looking for specific traits such as high-CBD content or ability to treat pain. This often requires growing specific strains. Try the following high-CBD strains for common medical conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, and neurological disorders:
The Bottom Line
Consumers who just want to buy seeds to keep them as adult novelty goods don’t need to worry about growing conditions or legal concerns. Those who intend to cultivate medical marijuana in New South Wales need to get a license prior to getting their operations set up to avoid legal implications. Once licensed, medical marijuana cultivators can purchase bulk seeds and supplies from an online seed bank like i49seeds.net!
