Metal Haze: The Electric Legend
Metal Haze: The Electric Legend
Strain Overview
Type: 100% Pure Sativa (Heirloom Haze Phenotype)
Breeder: Dutch Flowers (Originator of the "Metal Cut") / Mr. Nice Seeds (Genetic Source)
Lineage: Original Haze (Colombian Gold x Acapulco Gold x Thai x South Indian)
Market Status: The "Unicorn"; Metal Haze is not a strain you find at a local dispensary. It is a mythical cut—specifically, a rare phenotype of the Original Haze isolated by the breeding group Dutch Flowers in the late 90s. It is famous for a terpene profile that literally smells like dissolved coins or electrified copper. In a modern market dominated by fruity, cake-flavored hybrids, Metal Haze is a time machine back to the psychedelic, racy Sativas of the 1970s. It is the genetic parent of Iron Cindy and a holy grail for "Haze Heads."
THC Content: 18% – 24% (Pure Psychoactivity)
Dominant Terpenes: Terpinolene, Pinene, Ocimene, Limonene
Key Effects: Visual Distortions, "Electric" Energy, Heart-Pounding Euphoria, Zero Ceiling
There are Sativas that make you laugh, and then there are Sativas that make you vibrate. Metal Haze is the latter.
This is arguably the most aggressive expression of the Haze gene pool. It lacks the sweetness of the Purple Haze or the lemon-cleaner vibe of the Super Silver Haze. Instead, it offers a sharp, chemical, and metallic profile that feels like licking a 9-volt battery. It is a strain for the experienced psychonaut, offering a high that has "no ceiling"—the more you smoke, the higher you get, often bordering on hallucinogenic.
History and Lineage: The Dutch Flowers Cut
The story of Metal Haze is the story of the "Haze" itself, refined to a razor's edge.
The Origin: The genetic base is the Original Haze brought from California to Amsterdam by Sam the Skunkman in the 1980s. This mix of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Indian genetics was pure chaos.
The Selection: In the late 90s, a breeding collective known as Dutch Flowers hunted through thousands of Haze seeds. They weren't looking for yield or speed; they were looking for specific terpene profiles.
The Metal Cut: They isolated a specific female that didn't smell like fruit or earth. It smelled like silver polish and ammonia. This clone, dubbed the "Metal Haze," became legendary for its potency and its difficulty to grow. It is the "Mother" of the modern metallic hybrids.
Terpene Profile: Blood, Coins, and Ammonia
The flavor profile is abrasive, fascinating, and acquired. It is the antithesis of "Dessert Weed."
Dominant Terpenes
Terpinolene (The Solvent): The driving force. It provides a chemical, turpentine-like aroma that screams "Old School Sativa."
Pinene (The Sharpness): Adds a biting metallic pine note, similar to the smell of a machine shop or fresh solder.
Ocimene (The Herbal): Provides a background of woody herbs, but it is buried under the chemical top notes.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is startling. It smells of copper pennies, ammonia, cat piss, and ozone. It smells "charged."
The Smoke: Thin and sharp. It tastes of blood (metallic iron), lemon zest, and chemical cleaner. It lingers on the tongue like a lozenge.
Strain Effects: The Electric Chair
Metal Haze is not a relaxing strain. It is pure nervous system energy.
The Experience
The Jolt: There is no delay. The high hits the brain instantly with a racy, thumping energy. It can cause heart palpitations in unseasoned smokers.
The Visuals: This is one of the few strains that is truly psychedelic. Colors become saturated, peripheral vision blurs, and lights seem to have halos.
The Focus: It creates a laser-like hyper-focus. You feel like you can process information at double speed.
The Edge: It has a "jagged" edge. It can induce paranoia or anxiety if the setting isn't right. It is not a social strain for a chill party; it is a strain for running a marathon or painting a masterpiece.
Best For: Hiking, intense creative work, gaming, and experienced users seeking a "trip" rather than a "stone."
Growing Metal Haze: The 14-Week Nightmare
If you want to grow the legend, you have to suffer for it. This is one of the hardest plants to cultivate indoors.
Growth Structure
The Stretch: It is unruly. It behaves like a wild vine, tripling or quadrupling in height during flower. You cannot grow this in a tent without aggressive training.
The Time: It requires patience. Flowering times range from 12 to 16 weeks (up to 4 months).
The Structure: It produces "Foxtails"—airy, spiraling towers of calyxes rather than solid nuggets. This evolutionary trait helps it avoid mold in the tropics but frustrates commercial growers.
The Feed: It is a light feeder. High nitrogen will kill it or make it stretch forever. It thrives on neglect and low EC levels.
The Yield: Low. You grow this for the quality of the high, not the weight on the scale.
Grower’s Tip: The only way to tame Metal Haze indoors is 12/12 from seed (no vegetative time) or a SCROG (Screen of Green) setup where you ruthlessly weave the branches horizontally. Do not harvest early; the "Metallic" terpenes and the psychedelic high only fully develop in the final 2 weeks (Week 13-14).
Final Verdict: The Psychonaut’s Grail
Metal Haze is a relic from a different time. It is a reminder of what cannabis was before it was bred for bag appeal and 8-week finishing times. It offers a flavor that is chemically aggressive and a high that borders on spiritual terror. It is not for everyone. But for the true Sativa lover, finding the "Metal" phenotype is like finding the Holy Grail—a pure, electric connection to the Haze genetics of the 1970s.
You should choose Metal Haze if:
You are an Expert Grower.
You want Psychedelic/Trippy effects.
You love Chemical/Metallic flavors.
You hate "Couch-Lock."
Score: 9.7/10 (The Sativa Legend)