Cleveland, OH
Massive overhaul to Ohio cannabis laws on the way after group fails to stop SB 56
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Ohioans for Cannabis Choice officially announced they failed to get 250,000 signatures that would have helped put Senate Bill 56, a massive marijuana law overhaul, on hold. With the signatures not reached, changes to marijuana laws will now go into effect on March 20.
Senate Bill 56, which was passed last year, will eliminate intoxicating hemp products and place additional restrictions on marijuana. Hemp beverages would also be removed from shelves statewide, including at breweries.
Those against SB 56 believe it will lead to thousands of businesses closing as a result. Those for it believe stricter regulations are needed.
Ohioans for Cannabis Choice were working on a petition that would have forced a November general election vote on SB 56. That petition required 250,000, which the group says they did not reach.
“We want to thank the more than 5,000 Ohioans and businesses who volunteered their time and sweat to try to collect the signatures needed to put SB 56 before voters. Unfortunately, we were not able to overcome a truncated time period to give voters the chance to say no to government overreach. This doesn’t change the reality that marijuana will be re-criminalized in Ohio, businesses will close, workers will lose their jobs, and consumers will be denied their right to products they should be able to purchase.”
Ohioans for Cannabis Choice did not say how many signatures they did get, but said they believe SB 56 is a backwards step.
“Voters overwhelmingly supported legalizing cannabis in 2023. It only makes sense that Gov. DeWine and state lawmakers should go back and ask those voters if they want to ban hemp and re-criminalize marijuana. We know, and our elected leaders know, the answer would be a resounding no.”
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
You may have heard reports of booms in Ohio on Tuesday, and with that came further news that it could be because of a meteor hitting.
Is that true? Per the National Weather Service, the answer is: Yes! In a Facebook post, they wrote this: “We’ve been receiving reports of a loud boom and fireball in the sky across parts of western PA and eastern OH. Satellite imagery suggested this could have been a meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere, as it appears the fireball was detected around the Cleveland area.”
Here’s more from USA TODAY: “The asteroid spotted on Tuesday was 6 feet in diameter and weighed about 7 tons. It traveled over 34 miles through the upper atmosphere before fragmenting 30 miles over Valley City, north of Medina County, Ohio.”
Check out some videos of the fragmenting:
Incredible!
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Meteor hit Cleveland, Ohio? What we know so far
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A loud boom that shook buildings across parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning was likely caused by a meteor entering the atmosphere, according to the National Weather Service. Videos showed a bright flash in the sky, and authorities said they received numerous calls about an explosion, but no damage or injuries were reported.
Why it matters
Meteors entering the Earth’s atmosphere are relatively common, but ones that produce a loud boom and are visible across a wide area are less frequent. This event highlights the need for continued monitoring and research into these natural phenomena to better understand their potential impacts.
The details
The National Weather Service said its lightning mapper and cameras picked up what appeared to be a meteor streaking across the sky just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday. A meteorologist in Cleveland said a sonic boom was heard across much of the area, and the Weather Service office in Pittsburgh also received reports of a loud boom and a fireball in the sky. Law enforcement authorities said they were inundated with calls about what sounded like an explosion, but no damage or injuries were reported.
- The loud boom occurred around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
The players
National Weather Service
The U.S. government agency responsible for weather forecasting and monitoring atmospheric conditions.
Douglas Kahn
A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland, Ohio.
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What they’re saying
“Based off the satellite data, that is our best guess right now.”
— Douglas Kahn, Meteorologist, National Weather Service
“Our satellite data suggest it was possibly a meteor entering the atmosphere.”
— National Weather Service Pittsburgh
What’s next
The National Weather Service and other scientific agencies will continue to analyze data from the event to better understand the characteristics and origin of the meteor.
The takeaway
While meteors entering the Earth’s atmosphere are relatively common, this event serves as a reminder of the need for continued monitoring and research to understand the potential impacts of these natural phenomena on the ground.
Cleveland, OH
1 Cleveland firefighter injured fighting house fire in city’s Kamm’s Corners neighborhood
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – One Cleveland firefighter was injured fighting a house fire in the city’s Kamm’s Corners neighborhood.
Flames broke out inside a two-and-a-half story home on Elsienna Avenue around 5:10 a.m. Tuesday.
When firefighters arrived, flames could be seen shooting from the second floor and attic.
Cleveland Fire Lt. Mike Norman said the fire flashed during ventilation and one firefighter with Ladder 39 suffered burn injuries.
The firefighter was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center in stable condition, said Lt. Norman.
A husband and wife and two kids are now being helped by the Red Cross.
According to Lt. Norman, the cause of the blaze was electrical.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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