The landscape of Wisconsin’s alcoholic beverage regulations has recently undergone substantial changes with the revision of Wis. Stat. Chapter 125. In this post we will be discussing one of the most substantial changes, specifically, the ability of breweries, wineries, and distilleries to offer beer, wine, and spirits (“full service retail” under the new statute) at … Read more
Friday May 12, 2023 was a big day here at the office. Thanks to the efforts of City Brewing and Wisconsin Brewing Company, the Department of Revenue issued a declaratory ruling that approved contract production (through Alternating Proprietorships, or straight contract) between distilleries (and by extension and our reading of the statute, wineries too). This … Read more
A lot has changed since Wisconsin growers and processors of hemp applied for their first permits from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection under the 2014 Farm Bill. Now, the growing of hemp in our state is managed by the USDA via their local Farm Services Agencies, among many other changes. In this post … Read more
In the past few weeks, there have been a number of stories published in regard to hemp and intellectual property. Since that’s two of our favorite topics at OG+S, this week, we’re providing a brief rundown of each story with links to the original articles: CBD in Wisconsin and Illinois Marijuana Legalization “The High Road” … Read more
What does Champagne, Roquefort cheese, and Darjeeling tea have in common – other than a very high likelihood of being in my kitchen? They are all geographic indicators of a specific good. Or in other words, the name tells you where it came from – as in a location in the world, not just a … Read more
Under the 2014 Federal Farm Bill, hemp cultivation is allowed to be undertaken by States as part of an approved agricultural pilot program. Despite many other federal laws banning cultivation and use of hemp, the Farm Bill created this carve-out and a new opportunity for entrepreneurs and farmers in States that adopted the pilot programs. Luckily, … Read more
How does an employer determine if an employee is exempt under the FLSA and Wisconsin law? Determining if an employee is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (“DWD”) regulations is a multi-step process. Additionally, an employee may be exempt under the FLSA as to overtime, but may … Read more