Few cannabis strains can claim to be a cultural icon. Amnesia Haze is one of them: born in Dutch coffee shops and crowned at numerous cannabis cups, it has been Europe's benchmark sativa for two decades. In this post we look at its history, what makes it so special and what its CBD version is like.
What Amnesia Haze is and where it comes from
Amnesia Haze is a sativa-dominant strain created in the Netherlands in the 1990s, from Haze genetics crossed with Asian and Jamaican lines. Amsterdam growers were after a potent, aromatic plant with dense buds, and the result exceeded expectations: Amnesia became the queen of the coffee shops and won several Cannabis Cups, including in 2004 and 2012.
Today “Amnesia” is almost a whole family: Amnesia Haze, Amnesia Lemon, Amnesia Gold... They all share the same lineage and an unmistakable aroma profile.
Characteristics: aroma, flavour and structure
If anything gives Amnesia away, it's the aroma: intense citrus, with notes of lemon and incense over a spicy, earthy base, inherited directly from the Haze strains. Its buds are elongated and dense, light green with plenty of orange pistils and a good coating of trichomes.
When it comes to growing, it's a demanding plant: long flowering periods (10–12 weeks), typical of a sativa, in return for generous yields. That long cycle is part of the reason for its fame: it's a strain for connoisseurs, not for anyone in a hurry.
Is Amnesia sativa or indica?
Amnesia Haze is sativa-dominant (around 70–80% sativa, depending on the phenotype). You can see it in its tall, branching structure, in its flowering times and in the kind of effect culturally attributed to it: cerebral and energetic, very different from the one associated with indicas. If you want to get to grips with this classic distinction, we explain the differences between sativa and indica.
In its THC version, classic Amnesia is known precisely for its potency – hence the name, a nod to what can happen to your memory if you overdo it. In most European countries, that version is only found on the unregulated market: cannabis with THC isn't legal there, and each country has its own rules.
Amnesia CBD: the same essence, without psychoactive effects
The strain's popularity has led hemp growers to develop CBD versions of Amnesia: plants that keep the look, the citrusy, spicy aroma and the bud structure of the original, but with THC below 0.3% and CBD as the main cannabinoid. The result is a flower that smells and looks like an Amnesia, with no psychoactive effects. It's legal in several European countries, but each country has its own rules: in some, such as the UK, hemp flower is controlled even when it's low in THC.
At Cannactiva we grow our own indoor Amnesia CBD, with our signature citrus profile. And if you'd like to compare it with other low-THC strains, you'll find all our CBD flower in the shop. Check the rules in your country before you buy.
Frequently asked questions about Amnesia Haze
Is Amnesia Haze sativa or indica?
It's sativa-dominant (70–80% depending on the phenotype), with a long flowering period, a tall structure and the citrus aroma profile typical of the Haze strains.
Why is it called Amnesia?
It's a nod to the potency of the original THC strain, famous for its strong cerebral effect. The name was born on the Dutch coffee shop scene in the 1990s.
What is Amnesia CBD?
A version of the Amnesia strain developed from industrial hemp: it keeps the aroma and look of the original, but with less than 0.3% THC and no psychoactive effects, so it's legal in several European countries. Each country has its own rules, though: in some, such as the UK, hemp flower is controlled even when it's low in THC.
