There is a strain called Purple Haze. It is found pretty regularly in the medical marijuana clubs here in California. In that sense it does exist. It is also not just a case of somebody simply calling something purple haze because it's purple. The med clubs will often haze several purple strains available. Incidentally, it is not considered to be the best of the purps. That distinction goes to Purple Erkle or Granddaddy Purple, both of which are outrageously potent weed.

It's pretty much understood, however, that this new "purple haze" is not the original purple haze that was first available way back when. My personal feeling is that it's kind of a punk ass thing to name a new strain after an older strain that no longer exists, even if it is a big improvement. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist because it does. Someone pointed out that you can name your kid Jesus but that doesn't mean he's the messiah. True, but it doesn't mean a kid named Jesus doesn't exist. Know what I mean?

Despite of all this, I would agree that 90% of what is sold on the street as "Purple Haze" is not either the old or the new Purple Haze. It's just some random purple weed.