Haze is a pure sativa cannabis strain bred from Colombian, Mexican, Thai and other tropical landraces, known for a spicy, incense-like aroma and an electric, cerebral high. It was developed by the so-called Haze Brothers near Santa Cruz, California, around the late 1960s and early 1970s, then carried to the Netherlands, where it became the backbone of countless modern sativas. Original Haze flower usually lands in the mid to high teens for THC, but its reputation rests on the quality of the head high rather than raw potency.
Haze Strain at a Glance
| Type | Pure sativa |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Original Haze, O Haze, OG Haze |
| Lineage | Colombian × Mexican × Thai × South Indian (accounts differ) |
| Breeder / origin | The Haze Brothers, Santa Cruz, California (late 1960s to early 1970s); preserved by Sam the Skunkman and refined by Nevil Schoenmakers |
| THC | 15–20% (typical lab range) |
| CBD | Under 1% |
| Dominant terpenes | Myrcene, Pinene, Beta-caryophyllene |
| Aroma and flavor | spice, incense, citrus, earthy sweetness, spicy herbal, lemon, cedar, earthy |
| Reported effects | energetic, creative, uplifted, cerebral, talkative |
| Best for | daytime use, creative work, music and art, outdoor activity |
| Flowering time | 10–14 weeks for modern seed lines; old-school phenotypes can run far longer |
Where Haze Comes From
Haze is one of the founding strains of modern cannabis breeding, and much of its story is oral history rather than documented fact. Most accounts place it in the hills around Santa Cruz, California, where a pair of growers known as the Haze Brothers combined tropical sativa landraces around 1969 to the early 1970s. Leafly lists Thai and South American parents. Leaf Magazine describes the original as a three-way Colombian Haze, and Weedmaps notes that Mexican, Colombian and Thai lines are all part of the commonly told version, while stressing that the details are unconfirmed.
David Watson, known as Sam the Skunkman, was in touch with the Haze growers, kept the line going through the 1970s, and took Haze seeds to Amsterdam in the 1980s along with Skunk #1, where they helped launch his company Sacred Seeds. From roughly 1985 to 1989, Nevil Schoenmakers of The Seed Bank worked the line, selecting the famous Haze A and Haze C males. His cross of Northern Lights #5 with Haze A became the foundation for much of the Dutch Haze tradition, and Afghani-influenced crosses shortened the brutal flowering time.
Haze’s descendants read like a hall of fame: Super Silver Haze, Amnesia Haze, Jack Herer, Neville’s Haze and, by most accounts, Blue Dream through its Haze-heavy Blueberry pairing. In 2012 Sam gave inbred Haze seeds to Todd McCormick, who now sells an open-pollinated Original Haze through AG Seed Co. with Mel Frank.
Haze Effects: What It Feels Like
Haze is the classic up high. Users describe a fast, buzzy lift behind the eyes that grows into a racing, talkative, creative headspace with very little body weight. Leafly reviewers most often report feeling energetic, creative and uplifted, and older growers describe the Colombian-style buzz as electric rather than stony. Leaf Magazine says the high seems to have no ceiling, meaning more smoke keeps adding intensity rather than leveling off.
That makes it a strong daytime strain for art, music, hiking or long conversations, and a poor choice for winding down. The same racy energy is why Haze is notorious for anxiety and paranoia in sensitive people. Start with a puff or two and wait, especially if you are new to pure sativas.
Haze Terpenes, Aroma and Flavor
Haze has one of the most recognizable smells in cannabis: spicy and sharp, with incense, earth, citrus and a faint sweetness. Some smokers compare the best phenotypes to frankincense or a chemical, peppery dankness. Leaf Magazine notes lemon, spice and cedarwood in the buds.
The smoke tastes herbal and spicy on the inhale, with lemon and wood on the exhale and a lingering earthy note. Leafly lists myrcene as the leading terpene, followed by pinene and caryophyllene, which fits the woody, peppery edge.
- Myrcene: earthy, musky and herbal, also found in mango and hops
- Pinene: fresh pine, also found in pine needles and rosemary
- Beta-caryophyllene: peppery and spicy, also found in black pepper and cloves
Terpene levels vary from grower to grower and batch to batch, so check the lab label on the package. Learn more in our guide to cannabis terpenes.
Side Effects and How to Use Haze
Anxiety, paranoia and dizziness are the negatives Leafly reviewers report most, along with dry mouth and dry eyes. These come with the stimulating territory. Use a small amount, avoid combining it with lots of caffeine, and keep a calmer strain on hand if you tend to get edgy.
If you are new to Haze, start with one small inhalation or 2.5 mg in an edible and wait before taking more; see our dosing guide.
Do People Use Haze for Medical Reasons?
Leafly reviewers commonly say they turn to Haze for stress, low mood and fatigue, because it lifts energy and focus. The flip side is that people with anxiety often find it too stimulating. These are user reports, not medical evidence; talk with a healthcare professional about any condition.
These are user reports, not clinical findings. For what research actually supports, see our cannabis health and research section, and talk to your doctor before using cannabis for a health condition.
Growing Haze
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Flowering: 10–14 weeks for modern seed lines; old-school phenotypes can run far longer
- Yield: Moderate, with airy flowers
- Height: Very tall, heavy stretch
- Environment: Long warm seasons or large indoor spaces
Pure Haze is a grower’s test. Leaf Magazine puts AG Seed Co.’s Original Haze at 10 to 14 weeks of flowering, with substantial stretch and fairly wispy flowers, and some growers report traditional phenotypes running five months or more. It suited the long coastal seasons around Santa Cruz but rarely finishes outdoors in short or rainy northern autumns, so most growers use a greenhouse, light deprivation or a big indoor tent with plenty of vertical room.
Home-grow rules depend on the state: adults can grow at home in states such as California (six plants per residence), Michigan (12 per residence) and Oregon (four per household), while Washington and Illinois allow home growing only for registered medical patients. Check your state in our cannabis laws by state guide before you plant anything.
Strains Like Haze
- Super Silver Haze: a Skunk, Northern Lights and Haze cross that keeps the Haze high
- Amnesia Haze: a famous Dutch Haze descendant
- Silver Haze: a Haze hybrid with a similar spicy profile
- Skunk Haze: pairs Haze with Skunk #1 for a shorter flower
- Purple Haze: a classic Haze-family sativa
- Lemon Haze: a citrus-forward Haze descendant
Browse more sativa strains, the full strain directory, or our guide to cannabis strains.
More Sativa Strains to Explore
Island Sweet Skunk · Jack Herer · Jack of Diamonds · Hawaiian Snow · Hawaiian Haze · Harlequin · All sativa strains
Where to Buy Haze
Dispensary menus change every week, and Haze may be sold under its own name, as a cross or as a pre-roll or vape. The fastest way to find it is to check store menus online before you go. In Ann Arbor, browse Ann Arbor dispensaries and check the menus at stores like Green Acres Ann Arbor 2 and National Brands Distribution. In Chicago, browse Chicago dispensaries and check the menus at stores like Green Rose – Chicago and BLOC Dispensary Kedzie. You can also browse licensed dispensaries in every state we cover. Adults 21 and older can buy with a valid photo ID; see cannabis laws by state for purchase limits.
Haze FAQ
Is Haze indica or sativa?
Haze is a pure sativa, built from tropical landraces such as Colombian, Mexican and Thai lines.
Who created Haze?
It is credited to the Haze Brothers in Santa Cruz, California, around the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sam the Skunkman preserved it and Nevil Schoenmakers refined it in the Netherlands.
How strong is Haze?
Original Haze typically tests in the mid to high teens for THC, but the high is intense and cerebral. Many users say it seems to keep building with more smoke.
What does Haze taste like?
Spicy, herbal and incense-like, with lemon and cedar notes and an earthy finish.
Is Haze good for anxiety?
Usually not. Anxiety and paranoia are among its most commonly reported side effects, so anxious users should start very low or choose something calmer.
What strains come from Haze?
Super Silver Haze, Amnesia Haze, Jack Herer and Neville’s Haze all descend from it, and Blue Dream is commonly tied to it through its Haze-heavy parentage.
For adults 21+ in legal states. Strain information reflects breeder descriptions, lab data and user reports; effects vary by person and batch. Not medical advice.
