Original Haze
Original Haze
Also known as: Haze, OG Haze, Haze OG, Haze Brothers, Santa Cruz Original Haze, O Haze
Overview
Original Haze is a legendary pure sativa cannabis strain that emerged in Santa Cruz, California during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Created by the iconic Haze Brothers, this foundational strain was bred using three pure Colombian landrace strains: Santa Marta Colombian Gold, Colombian Red (or Colombian Punta Rojo), and Chocolate Colombian (a phenotype of Wacky Weed). Despite popular misconceptions, Original Haze is 100% sativa with 100% Colombian genetics, not a blend of Thai, Mexican, and South Indian genetics as sometimes reported.
The strain initially faced near-extinction due to its challenging cultivation requirements, but was rescued when Haze genetics made their way to the Netherlands in the 1980s, where breeder Nevil Schoenmakers obtained Haze seeds and distributed them through The Seed Bank of Holland, one of Europe's first cannabis seed banks. Schoenmakers spent 1985-1988 growing multiple generations of Original Haze seeds, selecting for the best traits until he created his infamous Haze A and Haze C male plants, which became two of the most important plants in cannabis breeding history and served as genetic foundations for countless legendary hybrids including Jack Herer, Super Silver Haze, and Amnesia Haze.
Original Haze is characterized by its extremely long flowering period of 16-20 weeks and towering plants that can reach 2-4 meters (6-13 feet) in height. The strain produces large, Christmas tree-shaped plants with long spear-like buds covered in resin, featuring dark orange hairs and large calyxes with minimal leaf matter. Known for its soaring, no-ceiling high where early enthusiasts claimed 'the more you smoked, the higher you got,' Original Haze remains the genetic backbone of modern sativa breeding and continues to influence cannabis culture worldwide.
Effects
Reported Medical Uses
- Users report relief from stress and anxiety
- May help with depression
- Often used for fatigue management
- Users report mood elevation
- May assist with creative blocks
- Often used for daytime energy needs
This is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional.
Possible Negative Effects
Growing Information
Original Haze is considered one of the most challenging strains to cultivate, particularly indoors, due to its extremely long flowering period and massive size. Flowering time ranges from 16-24 weeks, with some phenotypes requiring up to 6 months to fully mature. Plants can grow 6-13 feet tall outdoors and require warm, tropical conditions with long growing seasons. Indoor cultivation requires starting plants immediately on 12/12 light cycle with no vegetative time, reducing to 11.5 hours once flowering begins, and potentially 11 hours for the final weeks to mimic equatorial conditions. Plants reach approximately 5 feet indoors. The strain prefers pH levels of 6.0-6.5, light feeding, and excellent mold resistance due to its sativa genetics. Outdoor harvest occurs late November to early December in suitable climates. Yields are typically lower than average due to the long flowering period, but the quality is considered exceptional. Training techniques like LST are recommended to manage height, and strong support systems are necessary for the heavy, resin-covered buds.