Ohio hemp-ban repeal bid runs out of time for ballot qualification

An effort by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice to place a repeal of the state's intoxicating hemp ban on the ballot failed after organizers ran out of time to gather enough signatures—about 248,000 valid signatures across 44 counties were needed by the March 19 deadline. Senate Bill 56 already banned most intoxicating hemp, while Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a beverage carve-out; supporters argue the outcome could hurt businesses and jobs, though organizers did not disclose how many signatures were collected. Ohio hasn’t seen a ballot override of a law since 2011.