Former Republican House Rep. Marty Seifert, who is still competing against a field of GOP contenders to take on Gov. Mark Dayton, will start running ads this week. Dayton Campaign Manager Katharine Tinucci said it's not time yet for the governor to run ads.

The bill would allow children and certain adults with severe illnesses -- more restrictive than a different proposal that has stalled in the House -- to ingest and vaporize marijuana as part of clinical trials. The Senate version, which has been moving with more force, is more permissive. The proposals will travel in earnest on Friday into next week.

House Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Melin’s bill would be put up for a vote in the House Rules Committee on Friday, and said it was “unclear” when the bill would reach the House floor.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk explained that the Senate’s quickened pace came at Dayton’s urging. “The governor, probably about two weeks ago, actually asked the Legislature to move on the bill,” Bakk said. “I guess, at his request, we thought we would show him that courtesy.”

The law enforcement lobby has been a powerful force in blocking proposed medical marijuana legislation this session, highlighting the clout of police and prosecutors in shaping public policy.

Medical marijuana bill heard in Senate after governor’s remarks.

“Let’s see ‘em vote. They’ve hidden behind their desks the whole session,” Dayton said at a press conference at the Capitol.

GOP Sens. Carla Nelson and Roger Chamberlain have introduced an alternate bill.

1.) The Republican field for secretary of state was turned on its head yesterday by the withdrawal of the lone registered GOP candidate, financier Dennis ...

Dayton also issued an executive order calling on all executive branch agencies to begin using plain, "easy-to-understand" language.