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An Experienced Attorney You Can Trust
As Founding Principal of EARTH Law, LLC, Courtney N. Moran, LL.M. is dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to individuals and businesses operating in the agriculture, hemp, and psychedelics industries. She works closely with clients to develop tailored strategies that align with their goals while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
Awards and Achievements
Oregon State Bar Leland R. Berger Lifetime Achievement Award
2024
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.
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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.
Top 200 Global Cannabis Lawyer
2024
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.
Top 200 Global Psychedelic Lawyer and Policy & Regulatory Expert
2023
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.
Hemp History Week Leading Grassroots Advocate
2019
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 Farm Bill federally legalizing hemp!
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Hemp Industries Association Advocate of the Year
2018
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 negotiating the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, the language included in the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalizing hemp!
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Award-Winning Attorney
- 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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​​​​Effective Lobbyist
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As the Chief Legislative Strategist of Agricultural Hemp Solutions, Courtney has successfully passed 12 pro-hemp bills in just 8 years in Alaska, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Federally.
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In expertly championing forward-thinking policy for hemp agribusiness success, Courtney co-authored the federal Industrial Hemp Act of 2023 (S. 980, H.R. 3755) — the language included in the 2018 Farm Bill that federally legalized 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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​​Professor of University and Law School Courses
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Adjunct Professor of Law: Hemp Law and Policy, Lewis and Clark Law School- Spring 2022
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Adjunct Faculty: The Business of CBD, Oaksterdam University- Fall 2021 -Present
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Adjunct Professor of Law: Hemp Law and Policy, Lewis and Clark Law School- Spring 2024
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​​Instructor of Continuing Legal Education Courses
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Cannabis Hemp Law, History and Policy at the 2016 NORML Aspen Legal Seminar- June 2016
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2017 NORML Key West Legal Seminar- December 2017
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CanBar Association Cannabis Law Sessions in New Orleans- May 2018
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Oregon State Bar Cannabis Law Section Luncheon- June 2018
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Michigan State Bar Marijuana Law Section Annual Conference- October 2018
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INCBA Cannabis Law Institute New York-2019
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OSB CLS CLI 2019
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OCB CLS CLI 2020
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OSB CLS CLI 2021
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OSB CLS CLI 2022
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INCBA Hemp Law 101- June 2021
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Cannalaw Summit- May 2022, May 2023
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INCBA Hemp Symposium- April 2023
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Oregon State Bar Cannabis & Psychedelics Law Annual Conference- Sept. 2023, Sept. 2024
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Guest Lectures
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New Hampshire Law School- Aug. 2020
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Cornell University- Nov. 2020, Nov. 2021, Nov 2022
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Willamette Law School- Jan. 2021, Feb 2022, Feb. 2023, Feb. 2024
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Lewis & Clark Law School- Oct. 2021, Nov. 2021, Oct. 2022
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Stockton University- Sept. 2024
Expert Testimony
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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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Publication
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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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Hemp History Week
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Courtney N. Moran, LL.M. developed, organized and presented educational industrial hemp conferences during the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Annual Hemp History Weeks (2014-2019).​​​
Educational Background
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Courtney N. Moran, LL.M. grew up in Wisconsin and was valedictorian of Germantown High School. She attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, with a minor in Biology.​
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She earned her Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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During law school, Courtney interned for Keith Stroup at NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C.
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In the spring of 2013, she completed the world’s first industrial hemp university course, offered at Oregon State University.
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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 in Industrial Hemp Law. During her LL.M. program, Courtney participated in and provided legal support for AOSIS at the United Nations FCCC COP 19 in Warsaw, Poland.​​
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OSU Master Gardener Volunteer
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Courtney became a certified Oregon State University Master Gardener Volunteer in November 2016.
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She continues to meet her recertification and volunteer requirements annually.
Board of Directors
