All About Super Silver Haze

Super Silver Haze is an award-winning cultivar from the Green House Seed Company and one of the most sought-after long photoperiod plant plants but what does that mean for you? If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the variety of cannabis strains available, we understand and want to empower you with the knowledge to make an informed choice for your wellness needs. Our in-depth strain profiles are designed to provide you with tips on growing your seeds, how each strain affects your endocannabinoid system, and the kind of physical and psychoactive effects you can expect.

Growing Super Silver Haze

Super Silver Haze may be challenging for beginning growers. While it’s resistant to pests, mold, and powdery mildew, this tall plant requires hot, balmy weather and a good amount of room to accommodate both its height and its long outward branches. It has a flowering span of about 10 to 11 weeks, though if you can wait a bit longer, you’ll see a sharp increase in trichomes coating the plant and creating the silver sheen that lends this cultivar its name. Indoor harvests seem to yield better output, with up to 600 grams per square meter in optimal conditions. 

How Does Super Silver Haze Interact with the Endocannabinoid System?

To know what to expect from the cannabis variety you choose, it’s important to understand the endocannabinoid system and how cannabis can affect it. 

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

Within the nervous system is the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a cell-signaling network designed to send messages between the brain and body (Lu, Mackie; 2016) to keep the body in balance. The ECS is responsible for aiding in regulation of a wide variety of automatic responses from the body (Zou, Kumar; 2018), including:   

• Appetite
• Sleep
• Mood
• Immune response
• Inflammatory response
• Pain response
• Nausea and vomiting response
• Memory 

Three components make up the ECS: 

1. Endocannabinoids: These are neurotransmitters that communicate between nerve cells to stimulate or assist with bodily functions. 
2. Endocannabinoid receptors: Endocannabinoids sit on the cell surface and endocannabinoids bind to them in order to transmit the message to kick-start a reaction or response. 
   1. CB1 receptors bind to the cells in the central nervous system (brain and spine) so the endocannabinoids targeting these receptors may relieve pain, stimulate the appetite, or elevate the mood. 
   2. CB2 receptors bind to cells in the peripheral nervous system (nerves branching from the brain and spinal cord and immune cells) so endocannabinoids will bind to these to calm inflammation in the body. 
3. Enzymes are produced to break down the endocannabinoids after they’ve met their function. 

The body naturally produces endocannabinoids that become active when they bind to receptors located through the body in order to regulate and balance functions and systems. 

Phytocannabinoids and Super Silver Haze

Both cannabis L. short photoperiod plant’s  and cannabis L. long photoperiod plant’s main active ingredients are phytocannabinoids, which have a similar structure to the endocannabinoids produced by the body. The two most known to affect the ECS are tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. 

• Tetrahydrocannabinol (Potency) has stronger psychoactive effects and produces the “high” sensation of deep relaxation, increased euphoria, elevated mood, and increased appetite.
• Cannabidiol (CBD) does not bind to the receptors like Potency does (Laprairie, Bagher, et al. 2015), so it doesn’t produce a psychoactive response. Instead, CBD works to prolong the life and functionality of endocannabinoids created by the body, extending the natural pain relief, relaxation, and other responses. 

Strains high in Potency tend to have stronger psychoactive effects, while strains high in CBD won’t shift your mental state, but can ease the symptoms of chronic pain, stress, and depression. Super Silver Haze has a 19 percent Potency composition on average and only 0.17% CBD, so this is a fairly potent strain that will provide a stronger reaction to the ECS. 

Potency:  19.11%  CBD:  0.17%   CBN:  0.74%

The Terpene Profile of Super Silver Haze

Terpenes are the chemical compounds inside plants, including flowers, vegetables, and herbs that create their aromas. However, recent studies show that terpenes also affect the ECS and often work in conjunction with the cannabis to heighten the effects, particularly those related to relieving stress, inflammation, and nausea. While there are at least 150 terpenes in each plant, there are several dominant ones per strain that give it a unique aroma, flavor, and benefits. 

• Myrcene: Found in basil, hops, and lemoncannabis, this terpene has an earthy, herbal scent. It also offers anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties (Surendran, Qassadi, Lilley, 2021). 
• Limonene: Found in citrus peels, this terpene has a fruity, lemony aroma. Studies suggest that this terpene can boost serotonin levels and elevate the mood (Eddin et al. 2021).
• Caryophyllene: This is a spicy aroma compound that is also found in black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. From a wellness perspective, it can reduce stress as well as inflammation in the body (Scandiffio, Geddo, Cottone, et al. 2020). 

The aroma of Super Silver Haze is more grounded with predominant earthy, spicy notes reminiscent of sage blending with the familiar “skunk.” Flavor wise, the smoke has herbal and spicy notes but this is where the lemony flavor comes through, creating a complex experience. 

Type of Strain: Short Photoperiod Plant vs Long Photoperiod Plant

There are two main types of cannabis consumed for its wellness benefits: cannabis L. short photoperiod plant and cannabis L. long photoperiod plant. While both typically stimulate the appetite, elevate the mood, and promote feelings of peace and calm, they do have different effects. Short Photoperiod Plants are known for their blend of full-body physical reaction of deep relaxation and minimizing insomnia. Long Photoperiod Plants tend to have energizing properties to stimulate creativity and mental clarity. Combination Between Short and Long Photoperiod Plants tend to be dominant in one or the other, but providing a more balanced overall experience.

Super Silver Haze is a 70 percent long photoperiod plant combination between short and long photoperiod plant, so it’s a quick-hitting, energizing experience, but its 30 percent short photoperiod plant presence will provide a balanced, long-lasting effect that mellows the overall experience. 

The Physical and Psychoactive Effects of Super Silver Haze

By taking into consideration that Super Silver Haze is a long photoperiod plant dominant strain with a high Potency potency and a unique terpene profile, you can better predict what kind of effects and benefits you will experience. We also listened to user feedback to get a “real world” look at what you can expect: 

• Energizing and mentally stimulating 
• Relief from stress, worry, or anxiety
• Increased creative flow 
• Euphoric sensations
• Relief from chronic fatigue
• Eases chronic pain and inflammation
• Increased appetite
• Dry mouth
• Dry eyes

Purchase Super Silver Haze Seeds Today 

If you feel Super Silver Haze is the right cannabis cultivar to help you achieve your wellness goals, order your seeds today.  To learn more about this variety or other varieties, reach out to our customer service team today at [phone] or fill out the form below to get started. 

What is the difference between Super Silver Haze and Neville’s Haze?

Super Silver Haze and Neville’s Haze are both popular cannabis strains, but they have some key differences. While Super Silver Haze is known for its potent and long-lasting effects, Neville’s Haze is lauded for its unique flavor and aroma. Understanding the nevilles haze strain profile can help cannabis enthusiasts make informed choices.

Author

Mo Smyth, BSN, RN Cannabis Nurse Educator

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Laprairie RB, Bagher AM, Kelly ME, Denovan-Wright EM. Cannabidiol is a negative allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Br J Pharmacol. 2015;172(20):4790-4805. doi:10.1111/bph.13250

Lu HC, Mackie K. An Introduction to the Endogenous Cannabinoid System. Biol Psychiatry. 2016;79(7):516-525. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.028

Scandiffio R, Geddo F, Cottone E, et al. Protective Effects of (E)-β-Caryophyllene (BCP) in Chronic Inflammation. Nutrients. 2020;12(11):3273. Published 2020 Oct 26. doi:10.3390/nu12113273

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