Amnesia Haze

This strain has a somewhat misleading name: it’s a sativa-dominant hybrid that, despite its potency, won’t leave you with a severely impaired memory. Composed from a cross of staple strain Haze and several different worldwide landraces, including Thai, Hawaiian, and Afghani, Amnesia Haze may actually drive inspiration rather than forgetfulness. The Afghani indica in its genetics makes for a well-balanced, albeit somewhat cerebral high.

This strain that exists in the commercial market is mainly derived from two sources: First Medical Seed and Soma Seeds, the Amsterdam-based company responsible for creative strains like Lavender. The strain is a favorite for its uplifting vibes and its rich flavor. It won 1st place overall in the 2004 Cannabis Cup and Best Sativa in the 2012 Cannabis Cup. The THC content of Amnesia Haze ranges from about 20% to 25%.

This strain is distinguished by its chunky, dense flowers which show a synthesis of indica and sativa bud structures: although tightly-packed, the buds are more tapered and comical than round. Depending on how they’re cured, buds will have a greenish to yellow tint. Rust-colored pistils, meant for the flowers to catch pollen from other male cannabis plants, stand out against the leaves.

Phenotypes of Amnesia Haze can vary, with some playing host to more cloudy white trichomes than others; psychoactive potency can also vary in these cases. The unique size of the strain buds is matched by a unique scent and taste. The flowers immediately present a lemony tang that is mellowed out by some earthiness. Notes of wood, especially cedar, are evident in the buds. Breaking open the buds gives off a faint spicy scent, which may be familiar to fans of other strains in the Haze family. Despite all this richness, smoke is smooth when inhaled. The taste, both immediately and when exhaled, is again typical of Haze strains, with a spicy and citrus-infected flavor. This can be a pungent strain, and the smell of smoke may linger.

Amnesia Haze has many of the great qualities that mark both indica and sativa varieties, although users may land on the more thoughtful (or even hyper-thoughthful) end of that spectrum. The high comes up almost immediately, inducing cerebral thinking and a sudden acute awareness of surroundings. In a positive set and setting, this mental sharpening can lead to a euphoric state of mind. Users may feel an improvement in mood as well as an energy to accomplish tasks. Although cerebral, Amnesia Haze also has enough of an indica backbone to also provide relaxation and contemplativeness.

The combination of strong mental and physical effects makes this strain a good choice for activities that involve both mind and body, including but not limited to exercise and sex. More medically speaking, Amnesia Haze’s sense of focus can be helpful for those with attention deficit disorders who have trouble concentrating on specific tasks. It can also be a strong appetite stimulant.

On the negative side, those prone to anxiety may experience some degree of paranoia due to Amnesia Haze’s tendency to bring on a sense of frantic mind-race; as such, cannabis newcomers may want to temper initial dosage of this strain. This variety’s strong high also tends to last longer than average.

Grown outdoors, Amnesia Haze requires a predominantly hot climate with consistent temperatures between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It can easily be grown indoors, however, as plants are more typical of indica varieties — limbs reach more horizontally than vertically, with a bushy stature that doesn’t usually exceed more than 3 or 4 feet. Growers should trim broad fan leaves at the top of the plant in order to let air and light reach flowering nodes on the lower branches.

Amnesia Haze takes an extremely long time to mature: plants flower within 10 to 12 weeks, making this a tough strain for commercial growers to cultivate for profit. As such, it may be difficult to find in the cannabis retail market. Personal growers can raise Amnesia Haze plants from seed or from clippings taken to produce clones. The very long flowering time rewards growers with trichomes and with 60 grams or 2 ounces per square foot of plant.

Despite its relative rarity, Amnesia Haze is a popular strain in areas where cannabis is openly cultivated. Its even, well-balanced high is versatile for both mellow and more boisterous use. In particular, it can leave users chatty, making it a good addition to social situations. Alternatively, Amnesia Haze is a good choice for focusing on work in an isolated setting. Its energizing high is more likely to leave you wired than sleepy, so smoking shortly before bedtime is not recommended. Instead, Amnesia Haze’s high and comforting earthy taste is just the thing for spending a cold day indoors.