Courtney N. Moran – EARTH Law, LLC

Courtney N. Moran, LL.M., Founding Principal of EARTH Law, LLC, and Chief Legislative

Strategist for Agricultural Hemp Solutions, LLC, has a passion for policy reform and precedent-setting.  She liaised with the offices of Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in drafting and negotiating the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, the language in the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalizing hemp in the United States. Courtney is a highly accomplished attorney and lobbyist with extensive knowledge and expertise in hemp law. 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. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden acknowledged, “In a sentence, we would not have hemp legalization without Courtney”.

Courtney’s passion for cannabis and hemp legal policy stems from her commitment to

promoting sustainable and responsible practices within these emerging industries. As Founding Principal of EARTH Law, LLC, Courtney is dedicated to providing exceptional legal

services to individuals and businesses navigating the legal complexities of the cannabis and hemp industries. She works closely with clients to develop tailored strategies that align with their goals while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws. EARTH Law offers services related to administrative appeals, civil and criminal product and shipment seizures (local, state, and federal), land use, product and crop regulatory compliance, interstate commerce and import and export, licensing and permitting, expert testimony, and guidance on pending legislation and active rulemaking.

With EARTH Law, 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-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.

As Chief Legislative Strategist for Agricultural Hemp Solutions, Courtney expertly champions legal

policy for hemp agribusiness and agriculture advancement at the state and federal levels. In addition to her numerous legislative victories resulting in opening new markets across the U.S., in 2022 she served as Governor Appointee on the Oregon Taskforce on Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production, representing hemp farmer interests. Federally, Courtney co-authored the Industrial Hemp Act of 2023 (S. 980, H.R. 3755) to reduce regulatory barriers for grain and fiber farmers, support industrial hemp supply chain growth, and expand hemp grain and fiber market opportunities.

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. She empowers her students to cultivate change.

In January 2023, Courtney joined the National Hemp Association Board of Directors as Legislative Counsel. 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.

Matters

• Courtney co-authored the federal Industrial Hemp Act of 2023 (S. 980, H.R. 3755), 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 hemp grain and fiber market opportunities. Previously, she worked closely with the offices of Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in drafting and negotiating the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 the language included in the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalizing hemp.

• 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.

• 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) to protecting Oregon hemp agricultural interests. During her tenure as Lobbyist, OIHFA/ORHA passed 5 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 bill that creates the framework for regulating adult use cannabinoids. Courtney also 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.

Publications

• 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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