German health minister aims to legalize cannabis despite opposition

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is sticking to plans to legalize cannabis by placing legislation before parliament next month, despite opposition within Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition.

"I am continuing to assume that the Cannabis Act will be passed by the Bundestag in the week between February 19 and 23 and will go into force from April 1," Lauterbach told the Sunday edition of the Welt daily newspaper.

Talks on the act were going well, the minister said in remarks released ahead of publication.

Internal affairs politicians within the Social Democrats (SPD), of which both Lauterbach and Scholz are members, have expressed reservations.

The coalition, which also takes in the Greens and the pro-business liberals of the FDP, agreed at the end of November to remove cannabis from the list of banned substances in previous legislation.

Growing and being in possession of limited amounts are to be permitted for adults from April 1. From July 1, clubs set up for communal cultivation will also be allowed.

A number of Germany's 16 states, which are responsible for policing, have expressed concerns. Bavaria, ruled by the conservative Christian Social Union, has repeatedly called for the liberalization move to be blocked.

SPD politicians responsible for domestic security ministries have also expressed reservations, particularly with respect cannabis consumption near schools.

In response, Lauterbach told Welt: "We do not want cannabis smoked in front of schools or daycare centres, and for this we have defined a distance of 100 metres as a prohibition zone. I see that as a reasonable decision."

While policing the measure could be difficult, the current black market was also difficult to police, he noted.