G13 Haze: The Government Legend
G13 Haze: The Government Legend
Strain Overview
Type: Sativa-Dominant Hybrid (80% Sativa / 20% Indica)
Breeder: Barney's Farm (Popularized the Cup-Winning Cut)
Lineage: G13 (Legendary Government Indica) x Hawaiian Sativa (Haze)
Market Status: A Cannabis Cup Winner (2007) and living legend.
THC Content: 20% – 22%
Dominant Terpenes: Limonene, Myrcene, Pinene
Key Effects: Soaring Cerebral High, Heavy Body Anchor, "Creeper" Potency, Long-Lasting
Most cannabis strains have a history. G13 Haze has a mythology.
The story of the G13 parent is arguably the most famous urban legend in cannabis culture: a super-strain allegedly bred by the US Government at a research facility in Mississippi, liberated by a rogue technician. Whether the story is true or not, the genetics are very real.
By crossing this legendary "Government Indica" with a soaring Hawaiian Haze, breeders (most notably Barney's Farm) created G13 Haze. It is a botanical contradiction: it grows like a Sativa and hits the head like a Haze, but it carries the density and resin production of the world’s most powerful Indica. It is the genetic backbone that gave Sour Cream its potency and structure.
History and Lineage: The Myth and the Reality
G13 Haze is the result of trying to "perfect" the G13.
The Mother (G13): The "Government 13." A pure Indica known for immense power, rock-hard buds, and a knockout stone. However, pure G13 was often considered too sleepy and one-dimensional for recreational fun.
The Father (Hawaiian Sativa/Haze): To wake the G13 up, it was crossed with a vibrant Hawaiian Sativa. This added the cerebral, psychedelic edge and the fruity, tropical terpene profile.
The Accolades: This specific breeding combination was so successful that it won the High Times Cannabis Cup in 2007, cementing its place in history as one of the best Sativa hybrids ever created.
Terpene Profile: Tropical Spice
G13 Haze has a complex aroma that shifts as the buds are broken apart. It is a departure from the "Gas" of the Diesel family, leaning more into fruit and spice.
Dominant Terpenes
Limonene (The Fruit): Provides a sweet, citrusy top note that smells of ripe oranges and tangerines.
Myrcene (The Earth): Inherited from the G13, this adds a dank, spicy musk that grounds the fruitiness.
Pinene (The Crispness): A sharp pine note that clears the sinuses, common in Haze varieties.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: A pungent mix of spicy fruit, sandalwood, and metallic haze. It smells exotic and expensive.
The Smoke: It tastes of sweet candies, tropical citrus, and earthy spice. It is significantly smoother than pure Haze strains, thanks to the resinous G13 influence.
Strain Effects: The Creeper
G13 Haze is famous for being a "Creeper." Do not judge the potency by the first puff.
The Experience
The Delay: You might smoke a bowl and feel fine. Five minutes later, it hits you.
The Ascension: The Haze genetics trigger a powerful, soaring cerebral high. Colors seem brighter, music sounds better, and the mood is instantly lifted.
The Anchor: Just when you think you are floating away, the G13 Indica genetics grab your ankles. A heavy, warm body stone sets in, keeping you grounded. You aren't "racy" or paranoid; you are simply high.
The Duration: This is a long-lasting strain. The effects can easily linger for 3–4 hours.
Best For: Concerts, museum visits, creative projects, and philosophical conversations.
Medical Benefits
This strain is a dual-action medicine, targeting both the mind and the body simultaneously.
Chronic Pain: It is one of the few Sativa-dominant strains recommended for pain. The G13 body effect is powerful enough to numb aches without putting you to sleep.
Depression: The euphoric, psychedelic nature of the Haze offers a mental "reset" for those suffering from low mood.
ADD/ADHD: The high allows for deep immersion in tasks, helping to quiet the "noise" of a distracted mind.
Muscle Spasms: The physical relaxation is profound for a Sativa.
Growing G13 Haze: The Stretcher
This is not a beginner strain. It requires patience and space management.
Growth Structure
The Height: It grows tall. Very tall. It behaves like a pure Sativa and will stretch towards the light. Indoor growers must use LST (Low Stress Training) or SCROG (Screen of Green).
The Density: Unlike most airy Sativas, G13 Haze produces incredibly dense, rock-hard buds (the G13 trait).
The Flowering Time: 10 to 11 weeks. It tests the patience of the grower. If you chop at week 9, you lose the potency.
The Yield: High. The combination of Sativa size and Indica density equals heavy harvests.
Grower’s Tip: Because the buds are so dense and the flowering time is so long, this strain is susceptible to bud rot in the final weeks if humidity is high. Keep your humidity below 40% during the final 2 weeks.
Final Verdict: The Best of Both Worlds
G13 Haze is what happens when you combine the Unstoppable Force (Haze) with the Immovable Object (G13). It offers the soaring mental energy of a Sativa with the physical comfort of an Indica, all wrapped in a flavor profile that won the Cannabis Cup. As a parent to Sour Cream, it passed on its density and dreaminess, but as a standalone strain, it remains a bucket-list smoke for any true connoisseur.
You should choose G13 Haze if:
You want a Sativa high without the anxiety/jitters.
You are looking for pain relief but need to stay awake.
You appreciate spicy, fruity, and metallic Haze flavors.
You have the patience for a 10+ week flowering cycle.
Score: 9.1/10 (The Government Legend)