MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Bavaria's Health Minister Klaus Holetschek has demanded that the federal government immediately halt its plans to legalize cannabis. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) should not ignore criticism of the plan from doctors, the German Association of Judges and the police union, the CSU politician said in Munich on Wednesday. "If Lauterbach still does not come to his senses, Chancellor Scholz must pull the emergency brake and stop the insane legalization course."

Earlier, Hamburg's Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) also criticized the federal government's plans to legalize cannabis. "If there's anything we don't need now, it's this law," he told radio station "NDR 90.3." "Experiences from other countries show that with legalization, consumption increases significantly - with all the risks and side effects."

The federal cabinet is expected to pass the bill on Wednesday. Later, the Bundestag and Bundesrat will have to discuss it. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, however, the law does not require approval in the state chamber. According to the ministry, entry into force is planned for the end of the year./fjm/DP/mis