Thank you for the replies everyone. I appreciate the tips and the willingness to help out but I'll write it again... I have been starting seeds indoors for 15 years. I regret even mentioning removing the seed coat because it has led this thread more into a discussion about how I handle the seeds.
I've successfully started and brought to maturity many different types of seeds by following breeder's instructions. Some of the most difficult seeds to start are wild-flowers. Many of these seeds are very small, require a period of freezing or multiple cold/thaw cycles and then 4 weeks or more to germinate with a careful eye to temperatures and moisture. I've done all of that with success and have enough skills to know that it isn't that difficult with cannabis.
It's my opinion, based on 15 years of experience starting seeds from at least 50 different types of plants, that properly grown, harvested, and stored cannabis seeds need no help... none. They don't need to be soaked, paper towelled, scarified, or babied along for a week or two. I've seen what a properly-handled cannabis seed can do and the high level of vigor they possess. I've also seen that even when I use more advanced seed-starting methods many cannabis seeds still under-perform and it's because they are not mature. Healthy seeds have no trouble popping that shell because the cotyledons are big enough and when they swell up the coat splits in half. Healthy seeds don't need help, the leaves do it on their own.
My main goal with this discussion is to lift up the idea that all of the anguish and rituals with cannabis seed starting are not necessary if they are produced properly. It only becomes an issue with bad seeds. And I feel like there is a quite a bit of low quality seed out there. Apparently this idea doesn't sit well with people, not sure why, but please stop making this about my growing skills. I know enough about seeds, seed starting, and growing to make a reasoned judgement on this.
It is frustrating to know what is possible but then consistently receive small, under-developed seeds. The bigger issue is that many of us pay $6 for a bad seed that isn't quality and then get shamed into believing we screwed it up rather then expecting something more. Kind of like this thread.
