decriminalises
Stops punishing legally
Decriminalises is the British spelling of decriminalizes—to remove criminal penalties from an act without necessarily making it legal.
A country that decriminalises drug possession stops prosecuting users but may still regulate or discourage use.
Portugal decriminalised personal drug use in 2001.
Decriminalisation differs from legalisation, which makes something fully lawful.
Group pardon from authorities
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
leniency · immunity · nonprosecution · absolution · reprieve · commutation · discharge · quash
Change to official text
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- modernisationProcess of updating systems
- overhaulComplete systematic repair
- revisionAltering to improve
policy · regulation · deregulation · liberalisation · reclassification · downgrading · harm reduction · diversion
Making something standard
- destigmatisationRemoving negative social labels
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- advocacyPleading for a cause
activism · civil liberties · public opinion · awareness · grassroots · progressive · attitudes · cultural shift
amnesty
Group pardon from authorities
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
clemency · leniency · immunity · nonprosecution · absolution · reprieve · commutation · discharge · quash · expunge
amendment
Change to official text
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- modernisationProcess of updating systems
- overhaulComplete systematic repair
revision · policy · regulation · deregulation · liberalisation · reclassification · downgrading · harm reduction · diversion · rehabilitation
normalisation
Making something standard
- destigmatisationRemoving negative social labels
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
advocacy · activism · civil liberties · public opinion · awareness · grassroots · progressive · attitudes · cultural shift · empowerment
decriminalisescriminalises
Makes an act illegal
prohibits · outlaws · bans · proscribes · penalises
decriminalisesprohibition
Authoritative legal ban
suppresses · prosecutes · restricts · condemns · polices