Haze

Quick Reference

Genetics & Lineage

Original Haze was developed in Santa Cruz, California during the 1970s by two brothers known in cannabis history as “the Haze Brothers” — Sam and J (last names historically obscured). Their approach was ambitious: rather than working with a single landrace or simple two-way cross, they combined Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and South Indian sativa landrace genetics into a complex multi-way hybrid that expressed the best qualities of each parent.

The strain gained legendary status on the West Coast before Neville Schoenmakers — founder of the Seed Bank of Holland — obtained Haze genetics and brought them to the Netherlands in the early 1980s. This transfer was the pivotal moment in European cannabis breeding history. Dutch breeders, now working with Haze genetics, began crossing them with indica strains to reduce the notoriously long flowering time while preserving the cerebral sativa effects. The resulting offspring — Super Silver Haze, Amnesia Haze, Jack Herer, and dozens more — became the backbone of the Dutch coffeeshop trade and subsequently the global cannabis market.

Today, “Haze” as a category encompasses hundreds of strains. Original, unmodified Haze genetics are extremely rare and found almost exclusively in the collections of legacy breeders. Any strain labeled simply “Haze” in a dispensary is almost certainly a Haze-descended hybrid rather than true original genetics.

Terpene Profile

What distinguishes Haze terpenes from the Myrcene-dominant indica world is the prominence of Terpinolene — a terpene found at dominant levels in only about 10% of cannabis strains. Terpinolene drives the characteristic floral, herbal, and slightly fruity quality of classic sativa Haze strains:

The combination of Terpinolene and Ocimene creates the signature Haze aroma: simultaneously floral, spicy, and sweet with a slightly sharp herbal edge. It is qualitatively distinct from both the earthy-Myrcene world of indicas and the citrus-forward Limonene world of many modern hybrids. Strains that carry significant Terpinolene content — Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Ghost Train Haze — reliably trace some lineage back to Haze.

Effects & Experience

Haze is the archetype against which all sativa effects are measured. Its experience is cerebral, energetic, and long-lasting in a way that shorter-flowering sativa hybrids rarely fully replicate:

• Onset (0–5 min): Rapid cerebral activation, increased sensory sensitivity, mental brightness
• Peak (15–90 min): Creative thinking, euphoria, social openness, mild perceptual enhancement
• Late phase (90 min–3+ hrs): Sustained mental energy, spacey quality, gradual comedown without body sedation

The “spacey” quality is worth noting. Original Haze can produce a somewhat disorienting, head-in-the-clouds mental state at higher doses that some consumers find pleasurable and others find uncomfortable. Unlike modern hybrids that temper the sativa high with indica relaxation, Haze has essentially no body component — the experience is entirely cerebral. This makes it extraordinary for creative work, conversation, and daytime use when clarity is desired, but potentially challenging for those prone to anxiety or overthinking.

Important: Haze is specifically not recommended for people with anxiety disorders. Its stimulating, cerebral nature can amplify anxious thought patterns in a way that body-dominant strains do not.

Medical Applications

Note: Cannabis information is for educational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional before using cannabis medicinally.

Flavor, Aroma & Appearance

Haze smells unlike most modern cannabis. Where contemporary strains often trend toward fruit, dessert, or fuel profiles, Haze offers something older and more complex: floral and herbal with a sweet-spicy depth and a subtle incense-like quality that reflects its four-landrace heritage. Thai sativa genetics contribute the fruity tropical notes; Colombian and Mexican lines add the herbal sweetness; South Indian genetics bring a slight sandalwood earthiness.

The flavor on inhale is smooth with a floral-spicy quality; the exhale carries a mild sweetness with herbal and slightly piney undertones. Visually, Haze plants produce long, airy buds rather than the dense nuggets of indica strains — a structural consequence of pure sativa genetics. The loose calyx structure allows airflow through the bud and reduces mold risk despite the long flowering time. Trichome coverage is lighter than indica-dominant strains but resin quality is exceptional.

Growing Guide

The single biggest obstacle with original Haze is patience. At 14–16 weeks of flowering, it occupies grow space for nearly twice as long as modern indica hybrids. Indoor growers face significant electricity and overhead costs for what are typically lower yields per plant than comparable shorter-flowering strains. Height management is critical indoors — plants can reach 2.5 meters or more and will require aggressive low-stress training (LST) or SCROG netting from early vegetative growth to remain manageable.

Drug Test Detection

Video: Haze Strain History & Effects

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