Steep Hill, Together With The Pontiac Group and First Nations of Canada, Announce Steep Hill Canada

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Jmîchae?e Keller, President and CEO of Steep Hill, the global leader in cannabis science, testing and analytics, announced today that Steep Hill Canada has partnered with First Nations in Canada, through the Pontiac Group, to bring testing for cannabis to every province and territory, offering full service cannabis quality assurance to Canada.  

"Steep Hill Canada is honored to be partnering with First Nations through the Pontiac Group. This affiliation will enable licensed producers, processors, and retailers - whether the latter are provincially-managed or independent commercial enterprises - to offer tested cannabis for patients and consumers across Canada, while also enabling us to create a platform to share science and technology developments to benefit First Nation communities," said Martin Shefsky, President of Steep Hill Canada.

Pontiac Group managing partner Jacob Taylor said, "We are extremely pleased that through our partnership with Steep Hill Canada, First Nations people will have a key role in the regulatory process of bringing legal cannabis to Canada." Co-managing partner Jonathon Araujo said, "We are now assured that First Nations people will have the opportunity to participate in the economic development of the Canadian cannabis industry, and to help highlight the important intersection of science and spirituality that this strategic alliance brings." 

Steep Hill Chief Global Expansion Officer Scott Cathcart said, "We are very proud of our partnership with the Pontiac Group and First Nations in Canada. We see Steep Hill Canada as the beginning of a committed long-term relationship that will benefit the entire cannabis industry in Canada.  This partnership will also ensure that First Nations communities have not only a seat at the table, but also directly partner with us to drive quality outcomes.  We believe that the model of partnering with Indigenous communities can be extended around the world. Given that many Indigenous people have historically been oppressed by virtue of their religious or spiritual involvement with cannabis, it is especially meaningful to Steep Hill to have this partnership opportunity. This allows Steep Hill to 'give back' by blending our scientific capabilities with the traditional spiritual role of cannabis, which we hope will ultimately help to create a platform of economic opportunity for Indigenous people around the world."

Steep Hill Canada expects to be open for business in Canada before the full legalization of cannabis for adult use on Canada Day, which is July 1, 2018.

ABOUT THE PONTIAC GROUP

The Pontiac Group is a socioeconomic development firm that supports wealth generation on-reserve, through capacity enhancement, access to capital, and the marketing of sustainable investments. The Pontiac Group is a First Nations owned-and-operated company, with a current mission to collectivize and enhance the economic practices of Indigenous Communities in Canada ? toward a global vision of all people united in Indigenous ways of being. 

For more information about the Pontiac Group visit: www.pontiacgroup.ca

ABOUT STEEP HILL

Steep Hill is the world's leading cannabis science and technology company with significant footprints in lab testing, research and development, licensing, genetics and remote testing. No other company brings all of these sectors into one highly synergistic whole. Steep Hill's foundation was built on testing and analyzing medical and recreational marijuana to ensure compliance with public safety standards. In 2008, Steep Hill opened the first commercial cannabis lab in the United States and has been on the cutting edge since its inception. Steep Hill is currently expanding throughout the United States, and globally. With the goal of helping the rest of the world adopt "best practices" in cannabis testing, the company also provides expert consulting services to legislators and regulators in many countries, states and municipalities around the world. Steep Hill: "Leading the Science of Cannabis. Globally."

For more information about Steep Hill visit: www.steephill.com

Contact: Cathie Bennett Warner   |    Cell: +1-415-420-1573    |    [email protected] 

SOURCE Steep Hill