Cannabis Genetics & Preservation

A feminized cannabis seed is produced so that it will almost always grow into a female plant. Female plants produce the resinous flowers (buds) that contain cannabinoids and terpenes. Feminized seeds are created by inducing a female plant to produce pollen — a process called reversal — and using that pollen to fertilize another female. Because both parents are female, the resulting seeds carry only female genetics.

A female pollen donor is a female cannabis plant that has been chemically reversed to produce pollen. Because the plant is genetically female, its pollen carries only female (XX) chromosomes. When used to fertilize another female plant, the resulting seeds are feminized — all offspring will be female. KAB Farms uses Devil Driver and Oreoz as female pollen donors in their breeding program.

An F1 hybrid is the first-generation cross between two distinct parent plants. F1 hybrids often display hybrid vigor — faster growth, higher yields, and more robust plants than either parent. An S1 backcross (selfed first generation) is produced by reversing a plant and pollinating itself. S1s concentrate and stabilize the traits of a single parent, making them useful for breeders who want to preserve or intensify specific characteristics.

Terpenes are aromatic compounds produced by cannabis plants that give each strain its distinctive smell and flavor. They are synthesized in the same trichome glands that produce cannabinoids. In cannabis breeding, terpene profile is a primary selection criterion — breeders choose parent plants partly for their terpene expression. Common terpene families in cannabis include myrcene (earthy, musky), limonene (citrus), caryophyllene (pepper, spice), linalool (floral), and terpinolene (fruity, floral).

Photoperiod cannabis plants flower in response to changes in the light cycle. Outdoors, they begin flowering as days shorten in late summer. Indoors, growers trigger flowering by switching from an 18/6 (18 hours light, 6 hours dark) vegetative schedule to a 12/12 (12 hours light, 12 hours dark) flowering schedule. All KAB Farms seeds are photoperiod feminized varieties.

Cannabis seeds remain viable longest when stored in cool, dark, and dry conditions. Ideal storage is in an airtight container at 6–8°C (42–46°F) with relative humidity below 8%. A sealed glass jar with a silica gel desiccant packet in a refrigerator or cool basement works well for home storage. Avoid temperature fluctuations and light exposure, which degrade seed viability over time. Properly stored cannabis seeds can remain viable for 5–10 years.

Cannabis seed legality varies by jurisdiction. In the United States, cannabis seeds are sold as novelty or souvenir items and for genetic preservation purposes. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp (cannabis with less than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis) at the federal level. State laws vary significantly — some states permit home cultivation of cannabis, others do not. Always verify your local and state regulations before purchasing or germinating cannabis seeds. KAB Farms sells seeds for novelty, souvenir, and genetic preservation purposes only.

In KaB, LLC v. USPS (P.S. Docket No. MLB 17-195), the Postal Service's Judicial Officer ruled that CBD derived from qualifying industrial hemp was mailable under the 2014 Farm Bill. That reasoning was later applied to seeds in P.S. Docket No. MLB 18-113, where an administrative law judge concluded that unsterilized seeds from exempt industrial hemp were mailable. KAB Farms was the foundational case. This was an administrative ruling — not a blanket guarantee that all cannabis seeds are freely mailable. State law still applies.