BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An effort to gather enough signatures to place a question about legalizing recreational marijuana on the ballot in North Dakota has fallen short.

Organizers failed to turn in at least 31,164 valid signatures to the secretary of state by Saturday to put the question to voters. Sponsoring committee member Dustin Peyer, of Driscoll, told the Bismarck Tribune the group has gathered 19,500 signatures in its one-year time limit.

Peyer said the signature threshold is a lot to accomplish by unpaid volunteers.

Supporters already are forming committees to propose two future ballot measures related to quality and accessibility of medical marijuana, which is legal in North Dakota, and use of recreational marijuana by people ages 21 and older, Peyer said.

“We grew support across the state through a network of small businesses,” he said. “The biggest obstacle is those who are pushing the hardest are disabled, parents, business owners, or have generally a lot going on in their life.”

The proposed measure would have restricted recreational marijuana to people 21 and older, banned its use in public, and allowed the Legislature to license and regulate the industry. The measure also would have allowed home-growing of up to 12 plants.

A similar effort failed in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hampered the group’s signature-gathering.

Marijuana was a major topic in the Republican-controlled Legislature last year. State representatives brought bills to legalize and tax the drug, but the Senate killed the bills that were passed by the House.