The Oregon State Bar recently announced Courtney N. Moran, LL.M. as the second-ever recipient of the 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.
"The award is granted to the candidate whom the executive committee believes to best personify the Bar Statement of Professionalism, has made significant contributions to the practice of Cannabis law, and best serves as a role model for other lawyers. Factors considered are reputation, conduct, leadership, activities, and service to the bar — nationally or the community in general — and pro-bono service. The candidate's accomplishments must fall in the cannabis field. This is not meant to be an annual award. It is meant to be an award which is given only when someone has the criteria and the standards to be worthy of that award and that's why I believe it is such a cherished and fine honor.
- John Magliana, former Executive Committee Chair
Receiving the award at only 38 years old is a testament to the immense impact that she has had on shaping state and federal agricultural hemp laws and regulations in such a "compressed" amount of time, as Lee states at the award ceremony.
"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."
- Oregon State Bar
Lee passed the torch of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Courtney in a heartwarming and emotional speech that exhibited the friendship and collegiality among members of the Law Section.
"Lee, being a pioneer, he really set the foundation for a lot of what I was able to do and I am just so, so grateful for that."
- Courtney N. Moran
(Just a few of) Courtney N. Moran's Lifetime Achievements:
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), which is included in the House 2024 Farm Bill, and continues to lead efforts to reduce regulatory barriers for grain and fiber farmers, support industrial hemp supply chain growth, and expand industrial hemp grain and fiber market opportunities.
Courtney's passion for cannabis and hemp legal policy stems from her commitment to promoting sustainable and responsible practices within these emerging industries. Courtney co-founded and from 2015 to 2023 served as President and lobbyist for the 501(c)(5) non-profit Oregon Industrial Hemp Farmers Association (OIHFA)/ Oregon Hemp Association (ORHA)
Courtney has had a large impact on shaping hemp law and policy in Oregon, protecting Oregon hemp agricultural interests and passing six pro-hemp pieces of legislation (HB 4060, SB 1015, HB 4089, HB 2284, HB 3000, and HB 4121) in just 8 years.
Courtney strategically guided the initial implementation of hemp programs, legalizing the production of hemp in South Carolina, Wisconsin, Alaska, and Missouri.
In 2021, she led the passage of HB 396 in Montana, authorizing hemp food ingredients as commercial animal feed, and opening markets for hemp grain, fiber, and whole plant products.
As Founding Principal of EARTH Law, LLC, 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.
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.
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.
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