I have tried to "start" growing weed for many years and never got to harvest time, but I am newly divorced and live alone now (should see my groom
so I am well on my way. I like the paper towel method best, but I found that you need to be on top of it! When the seed cracks the root grows like wild fire, and when it gets more than 1/4 inch then it is hard to plant in a rock wool or soft plug becasue the root is long and twisty and you can ruin it. If your soil planting then dont worry and as metined above you can just start it in your good soil and wait.
I get distilled water (warm & no fertilizer), and make sure it is very luke warm not too warm, put in 16oz cup, then dunk the paper towel in, let it drip for 20 secs or so fold it how ever you want or use two paper towels, and put seeds on spaced out a bit and cover with paper towel. I put paper towel on a plate and cover with another so it looks like a flying saucer as mentioned in a post earlier, I also tape the plates. I check it after 24 hrs because some seeds will crack and root that fast. After 48 hours you will surley see root or should. I then use tweezers to pick up the seed (dont touch root) and put it into a rock wool cube, soil, or plugs) TRY to get it so root is down, set in a dark place at least 72F. I then go and hit my bong and wait for my little girls to pop, then your off and running to growing the bobo bud.