Cultivar record / amnesia-haze
Amnesia Haze
The distinctively sour, lemony aroma with a hint of mint is immediately recognisable to UK consumers familiar with the haze family of strains.
- Type
- sativa
- THC
- 20%
- CBD
- <1%
- Breeder
- Soma Seeds (also attributed to Soma Seeds) ⚠
Archive photography
Amnesia Haze Strain Gallery
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Archive descriptors
Record notes
Only descriptors supported by both the archive record and supplementary cultivar data are listed here.
Reported feelings
Flavour notes
Terpenes
Genetics
- Haze
- Afghani
Reported negatives
- Paranoid
- Dry mouth
- Dizzy
Reported sensory and character descriptors vary by phenotype, batch and individual experience. They are not medical guidance.
Overview
Amnesia Haze is a sativa cannabis cultivar. Amnesia Haze won 1st place at the 2004 Cannabis Cup and 1st place Sativa Cup in 2012. It was popularised in the coffee shops of Amsterdam and remains one of the most recognised Haze cultivars in Europe.
History and origin
Amnesia Haze was bred by Soma Seeds in the Netherlands and rose to prominence through Amsterdam coffee shop culture. The strain won the High Times Cannabis Cup in 2004 and the Sativa Cup in 2012, alongside numerous Highlife Cup and IC 420 Growers Cup awards throughout the 2000s and 2010s. It has since become one of the most popular and widely grown sativa strains in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom where it holds significant cultural cachet.
Genetics and lineage
The recorded lineage for Amnesia Haze lists Haze and Afghani, with genetics tracing back to South Asian and Jamaican landrace strains. The original breeder is disputed; multiple seed banks including Soma Seeds and Royal Queen Seeds have produced their own versions.
Appearance and structure
Amnesia Haze produces hard, compact buds with a very good calyx-to-leaf ratio. The nugs are typically elongated and slightly airy in structure, reflecting the strain's sativa dominance, yet denser than many pure sativas. The colouration is a bright lime green with golden pistils threading through the flower. The trichome coverage is generous, lending a shimmering quality to the buds that hints at the potency within.
Aroma
The aroma of Amnesia Haze is immediately distinctive and pungent, dominated by a very sour, sharp citrus character with a clear lemon and lime presence. A subtle mint note provides an interesting counterpoint to the bright citrus top notes, adding depth to the olfactory experience. The diesel undertones and earthy base notes round out the profile, making the scent recognisable from across a room. Breaking open the buds intensifies the sour citrus character considerably.
Flavour
Reported flavour notes include citrus, lemon and lime.
Reported character
Reported effects include giggly, euphoric, talkative, energetic and uplifted. Individual experiences vary.
Cannabinoids and terpenes
Amnesia Haze typically tests between 19% and 22% THC, with CBD around 1% and trace CBG. The dominant terpenes are Myrcene, Caryophyllene, and Limonene. Limonene drives the pronounced citrus and lemon aroma, Myrcene contributes to the earthy and herbal undertones, and Caryophyllene adds a subtle spicy, peppery complexity. This terpene combination supports the strain's reputation for an uplifting yet not overwhelmingly racy sativa experience.
Cultivation
Amnesia Haze requires a longer flowering period than many commercial strains, typically 10 to 12 weeks indoors, which is consistent with its sativa-dominant heritage. The strain can grow tall and stretch significantly during the flowering phase, making height management important for indoor growers. Despite the longer flowering time, yields are rated as very high when the plant is given adequate space and time to mature. Outdoor growing is possible in warm, sunny climates with a long growing season. The strain benefits from training techniques to control height and maximise light penetration to lower bud sites.
Cultivation information is educational. Growing cannabis is permitted only in certain markets — check your local laws.
Phenotypes and variation
Soma Seeds documentation identifies several distinct phenotypes of Amnesia Haze: a tall, stretched, slow-blooming sativa-dominant form; a shorter, fast-flowering indica-dominant expression; and a short but compact sativa-dominant phenotype that flowers slowly. Multiple seed banks and breeders have released their own versions of Amnesia Haze, including Royal Queen Seeds and Hy-Pro, which may exhibit different characteristics depending on the parental selection used.
Background
Amnesia Haze is one of the most decorated sativa cannabis strains in competition history, with a trophy cabinet spanning over fifteen years of cannabis cups. Bred by Soma Seeds and popularised through the coffee shops of Amsterdam, this polyhybrid combines Afghani Hawaiian genetics with pure sativas from Laos and Jamaica, creating an approximately 80% sativa-dominant cultivar with an unmistakable citrus and earthy profile. The strain's name is a knowing nod to its potency: the experience is said to be so memorable that you forget everything else. Amnesia Haze won 1st place at the High Times Cannabis Cup in 2004 and repeated the feat by taking 1st place in the Sativa Cup category in 2012. It has also collected multiple Highlife Cup awards, IC 420 Growers Cup wins, and the Spannabis Champions Cup.
In the UK, Amnesia Haze enjoys enormous popularity and is one of the most searched-for cannabis strains, with an estimated 5,400 monthly UK searches. Its uplifting, energetic buzz makes it a favourite for daytime use and social situations, and it has become deeply embedded in British cannabis culture, particularly among haze enthusiasts. The distinctively sour, lemony aroma with a hint of mint is immediately recognisable to UK consumers familiar with the haze family of strains. It is worth noting that Amnesia Haze is a separate cultivar from S5 Haze, despite sometimes being confused in the UK market.
The strain exhibits notable phenotypic variation, with expressions ranging from a tall, stretched, slow-blooming sativa-dominant form to shorter, faster-flowering indica-dominant versions. Flowering time is relatively long at approximately 12 weeks indoors, which reflects the sativa heritage. The buds are characteristically hard and compact with an excellent calyx-to-leaf ratio, making trimming relatively straightforward. Tolerance build-up with Amnesia Haze is reported to be unusually slow compared to many modern high-THC strains, which may contribute to its enduring popularity among regular consumers.
Awards and reputation
Amnesia Haze has accumulated an extraordinary number of awards, including 1st place High Times Cannabis Cup (2004), 1st place High Times Cannabis Cup Sativa (2012), multiple 1st place Highlife Cup awards in Bio-Haze and Hydro-Haze categories, 1st place IC 420 Growers Cup Sativa Breeders Cup (2005, 2007), Spannabis Champions Cup, and Santa Cruz Cup. It is widely regarded as one of the definitive sativa strains of the modern era.
Uncertainty and variation
Amnesia Haze appears under several names in the archive. Cultivar characteristics vary between growers and batches. The archive records a specific reviewed sample — it is not a current product specification.
Reported Effects of Amnesia Haze
Users most commonly report feeling giggly, euphoric, talkative, energetic and uplifted after consuming Amnesia Haze. These subjective effects are drawn from user-reported data and individual experiences vary considerably. The effects profile is influenced by the strain's dominant terpenes — Myrcene (aroma and mood), Caryophyllene (comfort and ease), and Limonene (freshness and energy) — as well as individual tolerance, consumption method and dosage.
A staple of European coffee shop menus since the early 2000s, Amnesia Haze is beloved for its energetic, euphoric, and talkative effects. It is a social strain in the classic sativa tradition — best enjoyed during the day or in conversation with friends, rather than as a wind-down cultivar.
Terpene Profile
The dominant terpenes recorded for Amnesia Haze are Myrcene (an earthy, musky profile commonly associated with relaxation and the classic sedative sensation), Caryophyllene (a spicy, peppery character associated with comfort and ease) and Limonene (a bright citrus note often linked to elevated mood). Terpene profiles can vary between phenotypes, growing conditions and curing methods.
For more on how terpenes influence the cannabis experience, see our guide to cannabis terpenes and browse the terpene directory.
Flowering Time and Cultivation
Amnesia Haze has a typical indoor flowering time of approximately 10 to 12 weeks. Outdoor growers in the Northern Hemisphere can expect harvest around mid-to-late October. The cultivar is known for tall sativa structure, substantial stretch during flowering, and high yields when given adequate space.
Cultivation information is provided for reference. Growing conditions, phenotype selection and cultivation skill materially affect outcomes.
Amnesia Haze Questions
What did the Amnesia Haze review say about its background?
Bred by Soma Seeds and popularised through the coffee shops of Amsterdam, this polyhybrid combines Afghani Hawaiian genetics with pure sativas from Laos and Jamaica, creating an approximately 80% sativa-dominant cultivar with an unmistakable citrus and earthy profile.
How strong is Amnesia Haze?
The archive record notes THC 20% and CBD <1% for Amnesia Haze. Actual potency varies between batches, growers and phenotypes.
Is Amnesia Haze suitable for beginners?
At around 20% THC, Amnesia Haze sits in the moderate-to-strong range. Beginners should start low and go slow — a little often goes a long way. Individual tolerance varies considerably.
Is Amnesia Haze indica or sativa?
Amnesia Haze is recorded as sativa. Most modern cultivars are hybrids with both indica and sativa ancestry, so individual experiences can vary.
What terpenes are found in Amnesia Haze?
The archive records myrcene, caryophyllene and limonene as terpenes associated with Amnesia Haze.
What are the potential downsides of Amnesia Haze?
Commonly reported side effects include paranoid, dry mouth and dizzy. These are self-reported and vary widely between consumers.
Is every Amnesia Haze sample identical?
No. Phenotype, cultivation methods, storage conditions and batch differences can materially change appearance, aroma, flavour and reported character. The archive records what was observed in specific samples — your experience may differ.
Why is it called Amnesia Haze?
The name is a knowing nod to the strain's potency — the experience is said to be so memorable you forget everything else. It was bred by Soma Seeds and popularised through the coffee shops of Amsterdam, where it remains a menu staple.
What awards has Amnesia Haze won?
Amnesia Haze is one of the most decorated sativas in history: 1st place High Times Cannabis Cup (2004), 1st place Sativa Cup (2012), multiple Highlife Cups, IC 420 Growers Cups, and a Spannabis Champions Cup.