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Courtney N. Moran, LL.M.

Founding Principal, Attorney & Counselor at Law
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An Attorney You Can Trust

Courtney N. Moran, LL.M., Founding Principal of EARTH Law, LLC, and Chief Legislative Strategist for Agricultural Hemp Solutions, LLC, is a highly accomplished attorney and lobbyist with extensive knowledge and expertise in hemp law. She was awarded the Leland R. Berger Lifetime Achievement Award by the Cannabis and Psychedelics Law Section of the Oregon State Bar in 2024, and was designated a 2024/2025 Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyer and a 2023/2024 Top 200 Global Psychedelic Lawyer and Policy & Regulatory Expert.

 

Her tenacity, unparalleled success rates, and commitment to promoting fair and equitable regulations have earned her recognition as a trusted voice and leader within the industry. During his keynote presentation at the 2019 Western U.S. Hemp Growers Conference & Expo in Portland, Oregon, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden acknowledged "In a sentence, we would not have hemp legalization without Courtney".

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As Founding Principal of EARTH Law, LLC, Courtney is dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to individuals and businesses operating in the cannabis, hemp, and agriculture industries. She works closely with clients to develop tailored strategies that align with their goals while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws. Courtney successfully litigated the landmark cases KaB, LLC v USPIS (2018) and RNF, LLC v USPIS, MLB 18-113 (2018) establishing the precedent for the shipment of hemp, specifically hemp-derived CBD and viable hemp seeds, through the US Postal Service. In 2022, Courtney won a hemp-derived delta-8 seizure case, upholding the protections of the 2018 Farm Bill for the transportation and shipment of hemp and hemp-derived products. Throughout 2023, EARTH Law secured a release of a Detainment Order for a hemp crop testing above 0.3% total THC, attained an update to Hemp Program rules on resampling and retesting crops with not more than 1% total THC, and expertly negotiated a Stipulated Settlement Agreement for licensing and production violations, protecting the client's ability to sell their harvest lot and continue future licensing within the state Hemp Program. In 2024, Courtney, in serving as expert co-counsel, obtained a case dismissal for felony charges of unlawful export and unlawful distribution of hemp-derived THCA concentrate.

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Courtney is admitted to practice in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

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Federal and State Legislative Advocacy
In expertly championing forward-thinking policy for hemp agribusiness success, Courtney liaised with the offices of Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in drafting and negotiating the federal Industrial Hemp Act of 2023 (S. 980, H.R. 3755) — the language included in the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalizing hemp in the United States—and is leading efforts with IND Hemp and the National Hemp Association, to reduce regulatory barriers for grain and fiber farmers, support industrial hemp supply chain growth, and expand industrial hemp grain and fiber market opportunities.

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As Chief Legislative Strategist for Agricultural Hemp Solutions, she actively engages in advocacy efforts to shape cannabis and hemp policies at the state and federal levels. Courtney strategically guided the initial implementation of hemp programs in South Carolina, Wisconsin, Alaska, and Missouri. She continues to influence hemp policy development in numerous states throughout the U.S. and federally. In 2021, she led the passage of HB 396 in Montana, authorizing hemp food ingredients as commercial animal feed, opening markets for hemp grain, fiber, and whole plant products.

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From 2015 to June 2023, Courtney served as President and lobbyist for the 501(c)(5) non-profit Oregon Industrial Hemp Farmers Association (OIHFA)/ Oregon Hemp Association (ORHA) protecting Oregon hemp agricultural interests and passing several pro-hemp pieces of legislation. In 2021, OIHFA led the passage of HB 2284 establishing the Oregon Hemp Commodity Commission, and HB 3000 an omnibus cannabis and hemp bill that creates the framework for regulating adult use cannabinoids in Oregon. In 2022, Courtney served as a Governor Appointee on the HB3000/SB1564 Taskforce on Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production representing hemp farmer interests throughout the state of Oregon.

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Education 

Courtney earned her Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During law school, she interned for Keith Stroup at NORML. Courtney began her career practicing medical marijuana patient criminal defense. Serving as co-counsel with attorney Leland R. Berger in appealing a county court’s decision on behalf of their medical patient client, the State of Oregon conceded in State v. Ellis, 260 OR App 174 (2013), that hashish is medical marijuana.

 

In January 2014, Courtney graduated magna cum laude from Lewis and Clark Law School with a Master of Laws
in Environmental and Natural Resources Law, with an emphasis on Industrial Hemp Law.
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Teaching and Other Experience

In addition to her legal and policy work, Courtney is a sought-after speaker and educator. In Fall 2021, Courtney joined the Oaksterdam University Faculty teaching Business of Cannabis: Hemp and CBD. In Spring 2022, she joined the Lewis and Clark Law School Faculty as an adjunct law professor teaching the first Hemp Law & Policy course in the U.S. Courtney inspires her students to make a difference and encourages their ability to cultivate change.
 

Internationally, on October 26, 2016, Courtney testified at El Seminario Internacional Perspectivas Legislativas Para La RegulaciÏŒn de la Cannabis No Psicoactiva Para Su Uso Medicinal, Terapéutico e Industrial before the Senado de la República in Mexico City, Mexico. She also participated in the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem in April 2016 on behalf of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley.
 

In 2023, Courtney joined the National Hemp Association Board of Directors as Legislative Counsel and also joined the Global Hemp Innovation Center Advisory Board. She continues to serve on the Oregon State Bar Cannabis and Psychedelics Law Section Executive Committee, the National Hemp Association Standing Committee of Hemp Organizations, the national NORML Board of Directors Emeritus Board, and the International Cannabis Bar Association Advisory Board.

 

She frequently presents at conferences, legal seminars, industry events, and also guest lectures for university and law school classes nationwide sharing her knowledge and insights on cannabis and hemp law. Through her engaging and informative presentations, she empowers individuals and organizations to navigate legal complexities with confidence.
 

Courtney was voted by the HIA membership as the 2018 Hemp Industries Association Advocate of the Year. She was also awarded as Hemp History Week’s Leading Grassroots Advocate. Courtney was celebrated by Capital Press newspaper as the Western Innovator: Leading the ‘green rush’.

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Courtney became a certified Oregon State University Master Gardener Volunteer in November 2016. She continues to meet her recertification and volunteer requirements Annually. 

 

Publication

In the Spring of 2015 Courtney’s article, Industrial Hemp: Canada Exports, United States Imports was published in the Fordham Environmental Law Review.

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Expert Hemp Testimony

Courtney has testified on proposed industrial hemp legislation before multiple legislative committees, and state agencies including the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon HB 3000/SB1564 Taskforce on Cannabis Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production, Missouri Legislature, Wisconsin Legislature, Alaska Legislature, and the Montana Legislature. 

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Awards and Achievements

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2024

Oregon State Bar
Leland R. Berger
Lifetime Achievement Award

The Oregon State Bar Cannabis and Psychedelics Law Section Leland R. Berger Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2018 to recognize Lee Berger for his contributions and trailblazing in cannabis law. It is the highest recognition that the section bestows on one of its members, and Courtney Moran is the first woman and only the second individual to receive the award. 

Courtney, like Lee, is a trailblazer in her own right. She is a fearless advocate who has championed numerous hemp-related laws across the United States, including at the federal level where she drafted and negotiated the Hemp Farming Act of 2018. 

2024

Top 200 Global 
Cannabis Lawyer

Cannabis Law Report & Cannabis Law Journal have compiled the lawyers and law firms that are the top 200 cannabis practitioners & practices around the world via our annual survey of clients and lawyers in the cannabis legal services sector. The Cannabis Law Report & Cannabis Law Journal have reported on the industry daily since 2016.

2023

Top 200 Global
Psychedelic Lawyer and Policy & Regulatory Expert

Cannabis Law Report has highlighted the latest in regulatory news and information for the world of psychedelics since 2021, as an increasing number of cities and states in North America take a more enlightened view towards the medical and personal use of psychedelics. This list represents the Top 200 Very Best Psychedelics Legal & Policy Thinkers. 

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2019

Hemp History Week Leading Grassroots Advocate

Hemp Week is the largest educational campaign about hemp in the U.S., supported by grassroots organizers, leaders from the industry, farmers, and advocates from all walks of life. Courtney hosted her Hemp History Week Event, "HEMPSTORY" from 2014 through 2022. She was selected as a Leading Grassroots Advocate in 2019 for her dedicated advocacy, grassroots organization, and her leading role in drafting and passing the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 into law in the 2018 Fafrm Bill federally legalizing hemp!
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2018

Hemp Industries Association Advocate
of the Year

At the 2018 Hemp Industries Association Annual Conference, Courtney was awarded as the Advocate of the Year. She had been running the Halls of Congress leading efforts drafting and neogiating the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, the language inclued in the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalizing hemp!

Board of Directors

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