Original Haze: The Genetic Godfather
Original Haze: The Genetic Godfather
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(Also known as: The Haze, Haze Brothers Haze, Neville’s Haze)
Strain Overview
Type: 100% Pure Sativa
Breeder: The Haze Brothers (Santa Cruz, CA) / Sam the Skunkman / Neville Schoenmakers
Lineage: Mexican x Colombian x Thai x South Indian (All Landrace Sativas)
Market Status: The "Building Block"; Original Haze is arguably the most important Sativa hybrid in history. It is the genetic backbone of the entire Sativa category in the modern cannabis market. Almost every "Haze" strain you see on a shelf today—Super Silver Haze, Amnesia, Jack Herer, Maui Haze—can trace its DNA back to this singular breeding project from California in the 1970s. It is rarely found in its pure form today because of its impossibly long flowering time, but it remains the holy grail for breeders seeking vigor and psychedelic potency.
THC Content: Variable (10% – 20%)
Dominant Terpenes: Terpinolene, Pinene, Caryophyllene, Ocimene
Key Effects: Psychedelic Cerebral High, Electric Energy, Visual Distortions, "No Ceiling"
Original Haze is not just a strain; it is an era.
It represents the pinnacle of 1970s cannabis breeding—a time when growers were mixing exotic landraces from around the world to create something new. It is a pure, unadulterated Sativa experience that offers a racy, trippy, and electric high that is almost impossible to find in today's market of heavy, sedative poly-hybrids.
History and Lineage: The Santa Cruz Mix
The origin of Original Haze is one of the most debated and celebrated stories in weed history.
The Origin: It began in Santa Cruz, California, in the late 1960s and early 70s. Two growers known as the "Haze Brothers" (R. and J. Haze) were growing outdoor crops using seeds imported from neighbors and friends.
The Recipe: They didn't breed in a lab; they bred by season.
Year 1: They started with a Mexican x Colombian hybrid.
Year 2: They crossed the best females with a South Indian male.
Year 3: They crossed the result with a Thai male.
The Export: In the 1980s, their neighbor, Sam the Skunkman, took these seeds to the Netherlands. There, he sold/shared them with legendary breeder Neville Schoenmakers, who isolated the phenotypes (A, B, and C) and preserved the lineage. Without this transfer, the Haze genetics might have been lost forever.
Terpene Profile: Church Incense and Spice
Original Haze has a flavor profile that has virtually disappeared from the modern market. It does not smell like candy or gas. It smells like a temple.
Dominant Terpenes
Terpinolene (The Haze): The defining terpene. It provides a complex floral, herbal, and citrus aroma that is often described as "fresh" or "zingy."
Pinene (The Wood): Adds a sharp pine and cedar note.
Caryophyllene (The Spice): Provides a peppery kick that tickles the nose.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is spicy and floral. It smells of frankincense, antique wood, leather, and citrus zest. In Europe, this smell is often referred to as "cat piss" (a term of endearment for the sharp ammonia note) or "church smell."
The Smoke: Crisp and biting. It tastes of spicy cloves, lemon peel, and dry wood.
Strain Effects: The Psychedelic Elevator
Original Haze is famous for having "No Ceiling." This means you don't plateau; the more you smoke, the higher you get, until you are bordering on a hallucinogenic experience.
The Experience
The Onset: It is slow to start (sometimes taking 10–15 minutes), known as a "creeper." But when it hits, it hits the brain, not the body.
The Trip: The high is electric and racy. Your heart rate increases. Colors become vivid. Thoughts race at a million miles an hour.
The Energy: There is absolutely no body load. You feel light, jittery, and compelled to move.
The Duration: It is incredibly long-lasting. A good Haze high can last 3 to 4 hours, tapering off gently without a crash.
Best For: Musicians, hikers, intense creative work, and psychonauts. Warning: This strain is notorious for causing anxiety and paranoia in people who are not used to pure Sativas.
Growing Original Haze: The Nightmare
This is why you don't see it in dispensaries. It is a logistical nightmare for commercial growers.
Growth Structure
The Time: It takes forever. Flowering times range from 12 to 16 weeks (sometimes even 20 weeks for pure Thai phenos). Most growers cannot afford to run lights for 4–5 months for one harvest.
The Height: It is a vine. It grows Massive. If left unchecked, it will grow 3+ meters tall. It stretches uncontrollably indoors.
The Yield: Low to Moderate. The buds are "wispy" and airy (fox-tails). They do not weigh much on the scale compared to dense Indicas.
The Environment: It needs a tropical environment. It hates the cold and loves high humidity.
The Breeding: While bad for production, it is Gold for Breeding. It adds vigor, size, and potency to any cross (e.g., crossing Haze with Northern Lights created the commercially viable Super Silver Haze).
Grower’s Tip: If you are brave enough to grow this indoors, you must use 12/12 lighting from seed. Do not give it a vegetative period. Even with 12/12 from the start, it will still end up 1.5 meters tall by the time it finishes.
Final Verdict: The Genetic Godfather
Original Haze is the grandfather of the Sativa world. It is not a strain for the average smoker or the average grower. It is a piece of living history. It offers a window into the past—a wild, untamed, psychedelic experience that is miles away from the relaxing, fruity hybrids of today. If you want to understand where Jack Herer or Silver Haze got their magic, you have to look at the Original.
You should choose Original Haze if:
You are a Breeder.
You want Psychedelic Effects.
You love Spicy/Incense flavors.
You have Infinite Patience (14+ weeks).
Score: 9.8/10 (The Historical Legend)