If you take the boat out this summer, make sure you do it sober.

As the weather warms up and Ohioans hit the water, state officials are reminding people not to operate a boat while drunk or high. This marks the first summer with recreational marijuana in Ohio after voters legalized it for adults 21 and older.

“We make safety a top priority so people can enjoy Ohio’s rivers and lakes,” said Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “We urge every Ohioan and visitor to follow the law by boating sober and wearing a life jacket this summer. Those simple steps will help keep you, your loved ones and fellow boaters safe.”

It’s illegal to operate a boat under the influence of drugs, or with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% and higher. The adult-use marijuana law prohibits passengers on a boat from smoking or vaping cannabis. Open container laws for alcohol also apply on public waterways, according to the Division of Liquor Control.

Officials recommend that boaters designate a sober driver for the day. Patrols will monitor boats for impaired operators and remove them from the water if needed.

“With the legalization of non-medical cannabis use in Ohio following the passage of Issue 2 last November, it is critically important that individuals who choose to consume cannabis products fully understand the unique impact these products have on them,” said Jim Canepa, superintendent of the Division of Cannabis Control.

Recreational marijuana sales could start in the coming weeks. The state is currently processing license applications for businesses that want to grow, process and sell adult-use cannabis.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — This heat wave is not stopping central Ohio communities from celebrating the Juneteenth holiday, but it is prompting organizers to be hyper-aware and take more precautions.

One of the organizers of New Albany’s Juneteenth celebration is also a doctor. Dr. Nwando Olayiwola said it’s important to be aware of your body. “Community connects us, heat will not stop us,” Olayiwola said.

She said they are very prepared for the heat and that she had been thinking about the meaning of this holiday and said it is interesting that the heat wave is hitting now.

“There were no air conditioners back in the original Juneteenth, I think we’re blessed and fortunate to be here, but we are taking all the precautions possible to make sure people can have a fun time and a healthy time,” Olayiwola said.

She said they have water stations all around, a misting tent, and a designated cooling room. She said they have plans in place for emergencies including having medics on site and other doctors and nurses like herself.

“We’ve got people kind of mobilized around the entire amphitheater that will be ready to kind of spring into action. We have a room that we’ve dedicated as an emergency call in and we will remove that person from the heat. We will get them to a place where it’s cool,” Olayiwola said.

The City of Hilliard celebrated the holiday with plans in place on Wednesday morning. Special events coordinator Kristan Turner said they had coolers filled with water by the stage and around the event. They also handed out a cool snack to the kids.

“There was a lot of planning. We made sure that our vendors knew our plan as something would happen, call EMS and where we could go. We have emergency kits on site if needed. And we also had popsicles to give out to all the attendees,” Turner said.

Olayiwola said the heat is just another reason to look out for yourself and others.

“You’ve also got to take care of yourself. And so the combination of staying healthy and having fun is what we’re really all about today,” Olayiwola said. “It’s a really incredible coming together of our community in New Albany. We believe that community connects us. And so we have people from all parts of the city, from all parts of the region, all walks of life, all ages, all races and ethnicities coming together to really celebrate this important moment in our history.”

Olayiwola said that during hot days, it’s best to take breaks from the heat every 15 to 20 minutes.

(WJW) – Two days in a row storms knocked out power in Northeast Ohio as temperatures continue to soar to dangerous levels.

As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, thousands are still without power.

FirstEnergy reports nearly 4,000 outages. The majority of those outages are in Stark County where 2,700 are reported.

A spokesperson for the energy company released the following statement:

We understand being without power is difficult, especially in this extreme heat. Many of our line workers have left their own families in the dark to work through these challenging conditions and restore power to about 3,000 customers in northeast Ohio who are without power. Our crews are out in full force, working around the clock in 16-hour shifts until every last customer is back up and running today.

Lauren Siburkis, Supervisor, State & Regulatory Communications

At the height of the outages on Tuesday night, FirstEnergy reported more than 31,000 customers without power statewide.

On Monday, storms also knocked out power to more than 13,000 FirstEnergy customers.

CLICK HERE to find the latest information on outages and estimated restoration times.

FOX 8 has also compiled a list of local cooling centers. CLICK HERE to find one near you.