Lemon Haze & Your Endocannabinoid System

When you’re looking for the right strain of cannabis to help you meet your wellness goals, it can be overwhelming to narrow down your options. If you want an option that elevates your mood, improves focus, inspires creativity, and provides relief from stress, mild pain, and other concerns, Lemon Haze may be the right option for you. A crossbreed of Silver Haze and Lemon Skunk, this cultivar is from Amsterdam Genetics and has amassed a loyal fanbase. Learn more about how to grow this strain and the effects you can expect in our in-depth profile. 

Growing Lemon Haze

Lemon Haze is ideal for people with some growing experience, but even if you are just starting out, you can be successful. It’s a hardy plant that resists mold, pests, and mildew, but is a bit particular about temperature and humidity. This grows best in warm, semi-humid climates with plenty of sunshine, and when growing indoors, needs a warm, moist area to thrive. Lemon haze is also tall, often topping over six feet high, so make sure you give it plenty of space to branch out. 

From seed to flowering takes about eight to nine weeks, and in the right conditions, Lemon Haze produces solid yields. Indoor plants produce around 450 to 500 grams per square meter while outdoor plants produce up to 500 grams per individual plant. 

About Photoperiod Plants

Like most cannabis strains, Lemon Haze is a photoperiod plant that requires specific amounts of light to move through different development stages. It will thrive in a vegatative state growing taller and more full when receiving 14 or more hours a day, but it won’t flower until the amount of light it receives is reduced. Indoor growers will find moving the lighting to a 12-hour cycle will trigger flowering, whereas outdoor growers will see flowering begin in late September when the days are shorter.  

How Does Lemon Haze Interact with Your Endocannabinoid System? 

Cannabis has been used for pain relief, relaxation, spiritual growth, and recreation for centuries, but what causes it to provide these effects? Let’s look at how cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System 

The endocannabinoid system is a cell-signaling network in the nervous system designed to create, carry, and receive messages between the body and brain (Lu, Mackie; 2016). These messages stimulate responses and regulate function in the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system to keep the body in optimal balance (Komorowski, Stepien, 2007) and controls the following: 

• Hunger and appetite
• Fatigue and sleep
• Mood and how we process stress, worry, and depression;
• Inflammation, both acute and chronic;
• Pain response, including joint pain and headaches;
• Creating and recalling memory;

For example, when the body feels pain, signals will go to the brain to release endorphins that relieve pain and discomfort, or when the body needs food, signals will go to the brain to stimulate the appetite.  

There are three components of the ECS: 

1. Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters that send signals between the nerve cells. 
2. Endocannabinoid receptors sit on the surface of cells. The endocannabinoids attach to them, sending a specific message to the nervous system to stimulate a response. CB1 receptors are present in the central nervous system to control hunger, mood, and sleep while CB2 receptors are present in the peripheral nervous system and immune cells. 
3. Enzymes break down the endocannabinoids once they have transmitted signals. 

Understanding Phytocannabinoids

Active ingredients of Cannabis L. long photoperiod plant and cannabis L. short photoperiod plant are chemical compounds called phytocannabinoids. These have a similar structure to the endocannabinoids produced by the body (Swift, Wong, Arnold, McGregor; 2013), allowing phytocannabinoids to interact with the ECS. The two most abundant phytocannabinoids in cannabis are: 

• Tetrahydrocannabinol (Potency) produces the psychoactive effect that allows you to feel high. It binds to CB1 receptors to stimulate feelings of euphoria, relaxation, increased appetite, and improved sleep. While endocannabinoids are produced by the body on an “as needed” basis, Potency is introduced into the body in a more concentrated manner which produces a stronger interaction, and the higher the Potency content, the more potent the strain. 
• Cannabidiol (CBD): This phytocannabinoid does not bind to CB1 receptors, nor does it produce a psychoactive effect. Instead, research shows that it most likely extends the life of endocannabinoids naturally produced by the body to extend feelings of pain relief, relaxation, and improved sleep  (Laprairie, Bagher, et al. 2015). 

Lemon Haze is a fairly potent strain with 19 percent Potency and moderate levels of CBD and CBG. 

Terpene Profile of Lemon Haze

Terpenes are chemical compounds within plants that create aromas, and a variety of terpenes within the plant can form unique scent and aromas. However, more important than the aroma of the plant, terpenes can also interact with the ECS, often enhancing effects of both Potency and CBD. We typically look at the three or four most prevalent terpenes to know the aroma and flavonoid profile of cannabis as well as how it can help support your wellness needs.  

Lemon Haze has a terpene profile that primarily consists of: 

• Myrcene, an earthy, herbal aroma found in basil, hops, and lemoncannabis. Myrcene is found to have anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties (Surendran, Qassadi, Lilley, 2021).
• Limonene is a strong lemon scent that is also found in fruit peels. It also triggers serotonin release, leading to an uplifted mood (Eddin et al. 2021).
• Caryophyllene, a peppery, spicy aroma, is also found in cinnamon and black pepper. Caryophyllene can also aid in relaxation and reduce pain and inflammation (Scandiffio, Geddo, Cottone, et al. 2020).

Lemon Haze has a powerful lemon aroma with little notes of skunk, warmth, and herbal notes. These terpenes also create a very mild taste with lemon continuing to be dominant in the flavor profile. 

Type of Strain: Short Photoperiod Plant vs Long Photoperiod Plant

Cannabis used for wellness can be divided into two types: cannabis L. short photoperiod plant and cannabis L. long photoperiod plant. Short Photoperiod Plants are known for their blend of physical and mental effects, creating a feeling of deep physical and mental relaxation along with euphoria followed by fatigue. Long Photoperiod Plants are a more cerebral high, with users appreciating the increased creativity, motivation, energy, and focus it provides. Most strains today are combination between short and long photoperiod plants designed to provide a more balanced experience to the user.  

Lemon Haze is 60 percent long photoperiod plant and 40 percent short photoperiod plant, so users can expect a slow onset of relaxation and happiness with mellow energy though the short photoperiod plant effects are more pronounced during the comedown. 

Potency: 19% CBG: 1%

Physical and Psychoactive Effects of Lemon Haze

Considering the details of Lemon Haze, including the type, Potency content, and terpene profile, as well as listening to user feedback, we have found the this strain provides the following benefits and effects: 

• Increased focus and creativity
• Relief from the challenges of ADHD
• Relaxation without sleepiness 
• Uplifting and euphoric
• Relief from stress, anxiety, and depression
• Inflammation and chronic pain relief
• Relief from headaches
• Increased appetite
• Dry mouth

Purchase Lemon Haze Cannabis Seeds Today

Shop our selection of high quality cannabis seeds, including Lemon Haze, today. If you have additional questions, reach out to us today by calling [phone]. 

Author

Mo Smyth, BSN, RN Cannabis Nurse Educator

References

Eddin LB, Jha NK, Meeran MFN, Kesari KK, Beiram R, Ojha S. Neuroprotective Potential of Limonene and Limonene Containing Natural Products. Molecules. 2021;26(15):4535. Published 2021 Jul 27. doi:10.3390/molecules26154535

Komorowski J, Stepień H. Rola [The role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of endocrine function and in the control of energy balance in humans]. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2007;61:99-105. Polish. PMID: 17369778. (originally published in Polish)

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

Surendran S, Qassadi F, Surendran G, Lilley D, Heinrich M. Myrcene-What Are the Potential Health Benefits of This Flavouring and Aroma Agent?. Front Nutr. 2021;8:699666. Published 2021 Jul 19. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.699666

Swift W, Wong A, Li KM, Arnold JC, McGregor IS (2013) Analysis of Cannabis Seizures in NSW, Australia: Cannabis Potency and Cannabinoid Profile. PLoS ONE 8(7): e70052. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070052