Blog By: Stevi Whitman
In this blog, 3L staffer Stevi Whitman argues for the use of certification marks to promote authenticity within the whiskey industry by introducing the Estate Whiskey Alliance® (EWA). The EWA is a member led association spearheaded by UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky, the James B. Beam Institute, Marker’s Mark Distillery, and other founding members, tasked with ensuring quality standards of whiskey production, promoting the benefits of local sourcing, and advancing sustainability efforts throughout the whiskey industry through the use of certification marks.
Blog By: Phillip Burress
Kentucky is home to 100 distilleries in 42 counties and produces 95% of the world's bourbon. In this Blog, 3L Phillip Burress discusses the threat posed by "Whiskey Fungus" on Kentucky property owners and the legal challenges facing Kentucky distillers.
Blog By: Ashton Edwards
In this Blog, 3L Staffer Ashton Edwards argues that instead of staying silent on the issue, Congress should respond to the interstate commerce concerns that reside in the Prop 12, a proposition that was made law by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2023. Edwards discusses that so far, Congress has yet to address the arguments and concerns of Farmers, the Court, or citizens, even though this law arguably has a substantial impact on interstate commerce.
Blog By: Antonio C. Ellzey
In this Blog, 3L Staffer Antonio C. Ellzey discusses the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry, particularly the impact of Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which limits deductions for businesses engaged in the cannabis trade due to federal prohibition. Ellzey discusses the potential benefits of rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, which he argues would alleviate financial burdens on cannabis businesses, enhance safety, and stimulate economic growth.
Blog By: Yuha Jung
In this Blog, outgoing 3L Staffer Yuha Jung explores two recent youth climate cases, one resolved in Montana (Held v. State) and another ongoing in California (Genesis v. EPA), emphasizing their implications for future climate litigation. Jung contends that youth-led climate lawsuits will ultimately contribute positively to safeguarding a clean and healthy climate for future generations.
Since 1997, Kentucky’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has implemented a program to bring elk to the state. This has brought economic benefits to impoverished areas of the state, but some question if the state’s efforts are enough. Read on to learn more about this untapped potential industry in Kentucky.
Keeping dairy farms afloat has challenged the United States government over the last few decades, resulting in billions of dollars spent bailing out dairy farmers. In 2019, more than 2,700 family-run dairy farms shut down. Major dairy companies are now arguing that mergers are the only way to stay in business. However, the government does not seem too MOOved by this argument. In this post, staffer Mary Dallas discusses the reason for the government's pushback when it comes to dairy farm mergers and potential antitrust issues that could arise.
With Kentucky’s famed Bourbon Trail, the state is uniquely poised to benefit from agritourism. And with statutes on the books, farmers already have the framework needed to succeed in this blooming industry. Read more to learn how piggybacking off of bourbon can benefit Kentucky’s farmers in agritourism.
In the past, hemp farmers struggled to secure financial capital to run viable farms. However, the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill launched a series of federal legislation that aided farmers interested in the THC industry. The SAFE Banking Act is the newest piece of federal legislation that provides a safety net for banks to lawfully work with the hemp industry without being subject to the heightened regulatory scrutiny necessary to work with the marijuana sector. In this blog post, 2L staffer Vincent Kleindienst explores the impact of the SAFE Banking Act.
In this blog post, 3L staffer John Paul Hicks discusses the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authorization of pesticides containing the chemical sulfoxaflor and its impact on the bee population. Hicks highlights the sting the EPA’s recent decision will have on the bee population hurting struggling bee farmers even more.
