decriminalize
Make legally permissible
To decriminalize is to remove criminal penalties from an act without fully legalizing it.
Decriminalized activities may still carry civil fines or other consequences, but won't result in arrest or criminal record.
The term appears most often in drug policy debates: Portugal decriminalized personal drug possession in 2001.
Distinguished from legalization, which removes prohibitions entirely.
Making something lawful
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- amendmentChange to official text
- repealAnnul a statute
statute · regulation · enactment · ordinance · codification · bill · lawmaking · policy
Group pardon from authorities
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
absolution · due process · fairness · equity · verdict · defendant · expungement · rehabilitation
Pleading for a cause
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- movementChange in position
- petitionFormal written appeal
protest · reform · coalition · grassroots · mobilization · demonstration · rally · referendum
Absence of constraint
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- releaseTo let go
- unshackleRemove bonds from
- liberateSet free from captivity
unbind · unfetter · disenthrall · unburden · autonomy · self-determination · bodily autonomy · dignity
Psychoactive hemp plant
- cannabisPsychoactive hemp plant
- possessionState of owning
- narcoticsDrugs inducing sleep, numbness
- substancesForms of physical matter
psychedelics · psilocybin · heroin · cocaine · opioids · paraphernalia · use · trafficking
Formal argument on issues
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- stigmaMark of dishonor
taboo · morality · ethics · contention · dispute · conservative · progressive · public opinion
legalization
Making something lawful
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- amendmentChange to official text
repeal · statute · regulation · enactment · ordinance · codification · bill · lawmaking · policy · deregulation
amnesty
Group pardon from authorities
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
pardon · absolution · due process · fairness · equity · verdict · defendant · expungement · rehabilitation · restitution
advocacy
Pleading for a cause
petition · protest · reform · coalition · grassroots · mobilization · demonstration · rally · referendum · ballot
freedom
Absence of constraint
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- releaseTo let go
- unshackleRemove bonds from
liberate · unbind · unfetter · disenthrall · unburden · autonomy · self-determination · bodily autonomy · dignity · rights
marijuana
Psychoactive hemp plant
- cannabisPsychoactive hemp plant
- possessionState of owning
- narcoticsDrugs inducing sleep, numbness
substances · psychedelics · psilocybin · heroin · cocaine · opioids · paraphernalia · use · trafficking · distribution
debate
Formal argument on issues
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
stigma · taboo · morality · ethics · contention · dispute · conservative · progressive · public opinion · media
- approvalapprove, approval rating, agree, accept, thumbs-up
decriminalizecriminalize
Make punishable by law
outlaw · criminalise · illegalize · illegalise · ban
decriminalizecrack down on
Enforce rules harshly
suppress · forbid · clamp down on · prosecute · restrict
- drug decriminalizationEnding substance possession penalties
decriminalization, decriminalized, decriminalizing, decriminalise, decriminalizes, decriminalised, decriminalises, decriminalising