Steep Hill, INC. is a California-based medical cannabis and adult-use cannabis testing, analytics, and research laboratory that opened in late 2007.[1] It was the first commercial medical cannabis testing lab to open in the United States.

Steep Hill
IndustryCannabis testing
Founded2007
Headquarters
ParentCanbud Distribution Corp.
Websitehttps://www.steephill.com/

Founding

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Steep Hill was founded by David Lampach,[2][3][4] Addison DeMoura,[5] and Steve DeAngelo in 2007.[6][7] In accordance with California Proposition 215 (1996) and California's Prop. 64 Adult Use of Marijuana Act regulations, Steep Hill routinely analyzes samples from the California medical and adult-use cannabis markets for signs of active compounds, microbiological contamination, residual solvents and pesticides. The lab uses Shimadzu equipment for gas chromatography. Steep Hill has advocated for strict safety and quality testing regulations[8] in the cannabis industry.[9]

Products

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The lab is known for of its QuantaCann and QuantaCann2 systems,[10][11] the first instant onsite potency analysis systems in the medical cannabis industry.[12] QuantaCann is on-site potency and moisture machinery providing important analytical information from cannabis samples in 60 seconds. The QuantaCann machinery was featured in the 2014 episode of CSI: Vegas, "Buzz Kill"[13] as the scientific equipment used to solve a murder in a dispensary. In addition, Steep Hill Labs created GenKits,[14] a genetics kit used for identifying various cannabis strains.[15] It has been primarily used for young seedlings so that growers may identify young male plants.[16] With this information growers are able to use additional genetic testing for traits to determine whether or not to remove them from their yields. Cannabis cultivators use GenKit for the classification, documentation, and safeguarding of cannabis varietals.[17] The lab complements this with programs that seek to identify specific THCA and CBDA content in plants. Other Steep Hill products include their Phenosight™ products,[18] which guide marker-assisted breeding programs in developing cannabis strains with desirable traits, and Strain Fingerprint,[19] quantifying the average concentrations of the twelve most common cannabinoids and terpenoids found in cannabis strains.[20]

History & Timeline

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2011

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Steep Hill was selected to serve as a Mendocino County 9.31 inspector. The company inspected cannabis gardens in order to establish compliance with County law.[21][22]

2013

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Steep Hill served on a team that was contracted to consult the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board[23] on implementation of its adult-use legal cannabis program.[24][25]

In July 2013, Steep Hill Lab Inc. merged with Halent Scientific Inc. to form Steep Hill Halent Lab Inc.[26][27][28][29]

2014

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In November 2014, Steep Hill and University of Technology Jamaica signed a Memorandum of Understanding,[30] initiating a three-year partnership.[31] This partnership furthers advanced research efforts to examine the scientific and medicinal properties and potential of the cannabis plant with the acquisition of a Steep Hill's QuantaCann2 cannabis testing machinery.[32]

Steep Hill expanded its lab locations to Washington state.[33]

2015

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Steep Hill announced a partnership with the cannabis lifestyle website Leafly[34] for the debut of its Strain Fingerprint product.[35]

Steep Hill expanded its lab locations to include New Mexico.[36][37]

2016

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Steep Hill announced significant East Coast expansion[38] of licensee lab locations, including new locations in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C.,[39] and Maryland,[40] as well as into Alaska.[41] The lab obtained approval to operate in Maryland in 2017.[42]

During a 30-day period ending on Oct. 10, 2016, Steep Hill performed quantitative pesticide testing of California-produced cannabis samples,[43] reporting that 84.3% of samples submitted tested positive for pesticide residue,[44] failing to meet the criteria of Oregon's pesticide regulations.[45][46]

Steep Hill adopts PathogenDx technology for performing commercial cannabis microbial testing to California requirements, deploying January 2017.[47]

The work of Steep Hill's cannabis genomics research division was the subject of a 2016 profile in Wired magazine.[48]

2017

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In August 2017, Steep Hill closed a two million dollar funding round to support its 2018 growth.[49]

Steep Hill's Dr. Reggie Gaudino, Ph.D., Vice President of Science, Genetics, and Intellectual Property, provided testimony before the Sixth Meeting Of the New Mexico Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, "There Is No FDA In Cannabis Testing, Therefore, Safe Cannabis for Patients is Left to the States States Must Respond on Behalf of Patients."[50]

In November 2017, Steep Hill announced a strategic alliance with New Frontier Data to offer intelligence reporting, data analysis, technology, and scientific expertise to governmental agencies in European Union member countries.[51]

Steep Hill Alaska, one of two testing labs in the state, reported inconsistencies in potency results from different labs, resulting in the formation of a committee to look at issues regarding the testing of cannabis products in Alaska.[52]

Through a partnership with Canada's First Nations Pontiac Group,[53] Steep Hill expands to offer full service cannabis testing and quality assurance to Canada.[54]

References

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  1. ^ CNBC.com, Rob Reuteman,|Special to (2010-12-07). "Lab Firms Cater to Medical Marijuana Business". CNBC. Retrieved 2018-05-08.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Steep Hill Halent Laboratories Expands Cannabis Lab Testing Services To Washington State". 2014-06-21. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  3. ^ Hill, Steep. "Steep Hill Launches $5M Limited Stock Offering". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  4. ^ "David Lampach: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  5. ^ "Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  6. ^ "Our Team: Leading the Way". www.shopharborside.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  7. ^ EquityNet. "Steep Hill Labs, Inc. | EquityNet". EquityNet. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  8. ^ Ganjapreneur (2015-11-10). "Dr. Donald Land: Testing Commercial Cannabis for Pesticides | Ganjapreneur". Ganjapreneur.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  9. ^ "California Medical Marijuana Products Fail Lab Tests - MassRoots". MassRoots. 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  10. ^ EquityNet. "Steep Hill Labs, Inc. | EquityNet". EquityNet. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  11. ^ "Steep Hill Labs, Global Leader in Cannabis Testing and Analytics Announces the Release of QuantaCann2". PRWeb. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  12. ^ "Steep Hill Website". Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  13. ^ Waldeck, Frank (2014-10-05), Buzz Kill, Ted Danson, Elisabeth Shue, George Eads, retrieved 2018-05-08
  14. ^ Interactive, Devise. "Steep Hill Labs | Global Leader in Cannabis Testing and Analytics". Steep Hill Labs. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  15. ^ "Steep Hill Hawaii GenKit™ Details & Reviews | Leafly". Leafly. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  16. ^ "Cannabis Quality Assurance Leader Steep Hill Helps Breeders Make..." New Cannabis Ventures. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  17. ^ Ganjapreneur (2017-05-12). "The Steep Hill GenKit: Helping Growers Classify, Document & Safeguard Cannabis Varietals | Ganjapreneur". Ganjapreneur.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  18. ^ Interactive, Devise. "Steep Hill Labs | Global Leader in Cannabis Testing and Analytics". Steep Hill Labs. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  19. ^ "Steep Hill Hawaii Strain Fingerprint™ Details & Reviews | Leafly". Leafly. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  20. ^ "Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes | Leafly". Leafly. 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  21. ^ "99-plant medical pot limit given initial approval; final vote in April". 12 August 2018.
  22. ^ Downs, David (5 January 2011). "The Cannabis Clean-Up Team". East Bay Express.
  23. ^ "Washington's Big-Brained Marijuana Team Takes the Field - Washington State Wire". Washington State Wire. 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  24. ^ "BOTEC Analysis Corporation" (PDF). Washington State Liquor Control Board. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Liquor Control Board Announces BOTEC Analyses Corporation as Marijuana Consultant | Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board". lcb.wa.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  26. ^ "Marijuana Company Merger". www.wealthdaily.com.
  27. ^ "Top Two Medical Marijuana Testing & Research Companies Announce Merger". 12 June 2013.
  28. ^ "Check out Steep Hill Labs".
  29. ^ "Steep Hill Halent Laboratories - Oakland, California". www.medicaljane.com. 6 September 2013.
  30. ^ "UTech collaborates with Steep Hill Labs, USA to advance local cannabis research - Firstlook - Go-Jamaica". go-jamaica.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  31. ^ "Leading the Science of Cannabis" (PDF). Steep Hill. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Jamaica's UTech University Investing Wisely in Marijuana Research Technology | BioTrackTHC: The Leading Seed-to-Sale Cannabis Software". BioTrackTHC: The Leading Seed-to-Sale Cannabis Software. 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  33. ^ "Steep Hill Halent Laboratories Expands Cannabis Lab Testing Services To Washington State". www.medicaljane.com. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  34. ^ "Strain Fingerprint™ Launch: Leafly Partnership". Steep Hill Labs, Inc. 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  35. ^ Interactive, Devise. "Steep Hill Labs | Global Leader in Cannabis Testing and Analytics". Steep Hill Labs. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  36. ^ "Steep Hill Opens Cannabis Testing and Analytics Lab In Albuquerque, New Mexico - Area Development". Area Development. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  37. ^ Hill, Steep. "Steep Hill Opens New Lab In New Mexico!". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  38. ^ "Steep Hill Announces Significant East Coast Expansion & Licenses Cannabis Testing Laboratories in Pennsylvania and Washington DC - Cannabis Life Network". Cannabis Life Network. 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  39. ^ "Steep Hill Labs Expands to Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. | Cannabis Industry Journal". Cannabis Industry Journal. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  40. ^ "Local Docs Set To Open First MD Medical Marijuana Testing Lab". wbal.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  41. ^ Hill, Steep. "Steep Hill Announces Agreement to License Cannabis Testing Technology in the State of Alaska". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  42. ^ "Steep Hill Maryland Is The First Commercial Cannabis Test Lab To Receive Pre-Approval To Operate From The State Of Maryland". www.laboratorynetwork.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  43. ^ "Pesticides". Steep Hill. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  44. ^ "Steep Hill, ACCL Find Pesticides in Over 50% of Cannabis Samples | Cannabis Industry Journal". Cannabis Industry Journal. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  45. ^ Ganjapreneur (2016-10-20). "Steep Hill Report Finds 84% of Cannabis Tainted with Pesticides | Ganjapreneur". Ganjapreneur.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  46. ^ "Study Shows California Cannabis Wouldn't Pass Oregon's Strict Standards". Civilized. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  47. ^ "PathogenDX". PathogenDX. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  48. ^ "A New Crop of Marijuana Geneticists Sets Out to Build Better Weed". WIRED. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  49. ^ NCV Newswire (22 August 2017). "Cannabis Technology Company Steep Hill Raises $2mm". New Cannabis Ventures. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  50. ^ "THERE IS NO FDA IN CANNABIS TESTING Therefore, Safe Cannabis for Patients is Left to the States States Must Respond on Behalf of Patients" (PDF). www.nmlegis.gov.
  51. ^ "New Frontier Data Partners with Steep Hill - New Frontier". New Frontier. 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  52. ^ "Panel to Look at Testing Issues for Alaska Marijuana".
  53. ^ Hill, Steep. "Steep Hill, Together With The Pontiac Group and First Nations of Canada, Announce Steep Hill Canada". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  54. ^ "Steep Hill Enters Canada with First Nations Joint Venture". New Cannabis Ventures. Retrieved 2018-05-08.