decriminalising
Lifting criminal sanctions
Decriminalising is removing criminal penalties from an activity, making it no longer a crime punishable by law.
This differs from legalising—decriminalised acts may still be regulated or carry civil penalties, but won't result in arrest or criminal record: Several countries are decriminalising drug possession.
British spelling of decriminalizing.
Making something lawful
- repealAnnul a statute
- amendmentChange to official text
- statuteEnacted written rule
- enactmentPassing into law
regulation · ordinance · codification · bill · act · prosecution · penalty · offence
Mark of dishonor
- normalizationAdjusting to a standard
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
discrimination · equity · harm-reduction · rehabilitation · reintegration · addiction · euthanasia · cannabis
Pleading for a cause
- campaigningActively pursuing political support
- petitionFormal written appeal
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- activismDirect effort for reform
grassroots · movement · coalition · referendum · proposition · ballot · policy · legislation
Reducing state economic controls
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- reformImprove by correcting faults
forward-thinking · open-mindedness · permissiveness · secularism · humanitarianism · rights-based · civil-liberties · autonomy
Formal argument on issues
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- criticismJudgment of faults
- dissentDisagreement with authority
disagreement · outcry · polarization · morality · ethics · taboo · conservative · religious
legalization
Making something lawful
enactment · regulation · ordinance · codification · bill · act · prosecution · penalty · offence · sentencing
stigma
Mark of dishonor
- normalizationAdjusting to a standard
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- acceptanceConsent to receive
marginalization · discrimination · equity · harm-reduction · rehabilitation · reintegration · addiction · euthanasia · cannabis · possession
advocacy
Pleading for a cause
- campaigningActively pursuing political support
- petitionFormal written appeal
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
activism · grassroots · movement · coalition · referendum · proposition · ballot · policy · legislation · lawmakers
liberalization
Reducing state economic controls
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
reform · forward-thinking · open-mindedness · permissiveness · secularism · humanitarianism · rights-based · civil-liberties · autonomy · consent
debate
Formal argument on issues
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- criticismJudgment of faults
dissent · disagreement · outcry · polarization · morality · ethics · taboo · conservative · religious · traditional
decriminalisingcriminalising
Declaring an act unlawful
criminalizing · outlawing · prohibiting · banning · proscribing
decriminalisingrestricting
Placing limits upon
suppressing · condemning · censoring · repressing · stamping out
crime, criminal, incriminate, criminally, recrimination, anticrime, criminologist, decriminalize, criminology