legalize
Remove criminal status
To legalize something is to make it lawful—to remove legal prohibitions against it.
The word appears most often in debates about drugs, gambling, prostitution, and other activities that some jurisdictions ban: Several states have legalized marijuana.
Legalization implies the activity was previously forbidden, distinguishing it from activities that were never illegal.
Grant formal permission
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- approveFormally accept or authorize
- validateConfirm as true
certify · legitimize · allow · warrant · accredit · endorse · ratify · consent
Official enactment of statutes
ordinance · code · regulation · mandate · amendment · provision · ratification · codify
Remove legal consequences from
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- expungeDelete entirely, officially
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- unbanRemove a prohibition
tolerate · nonprosecution · exemption · absolve · acquit · exonerate · rescind · annul
Adopted principle of action
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
- modernizeMake contemporary
- overhaulComplete systematic repair
- amendmentChange to official text
transformation · revision · advocacy · campaign · movement · petition · ballot · referendum
Minimally polite
- equalitySame status for all
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
justice · accessibility · inclusion · empowerment · protection · enfranchisement · marriage · abortion
authorize
Grant formal permission
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- approveFormally accept or authorize
validate · certify · legitimize · allow · warrant · accredit · endorse · ratify · consent · empower
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
act · ordinance · code · regulation · mandate · amendment · provision · ratification · codify · charter
depenalize
Remove legal consequences from
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- expungeDelete entirely, officially
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
unban · tolerate · nonprosecution · exemption · absolve · acquit · exonerate · rescind · annul · void
policy
Adopted principle of action
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
- modernizeMake contemporary
- overhaulComplete systematic repair
amendment · transformation · revision · advocacy · campaign · movement · petition · ballot · referendum · initiative
civil
Minimally polite
autonomy · justice · accessibility · inclusion · empowerment · protection · enfranchisement · marriage · abortion · euthanasia
- approvalsapproved, approve, authorizing, certification, endorsing
- approvalapprove, approval rating, agree, accept, thumbs-up
- finalizationfinalize, conclude, close, clinch, seal
legalizecriminalize
Make punishable by law
outlaw · prohibit · ban · illegalize · criminalise
- marijuana legalizationPermitting recreational weed use
- cannabis legalizationRemoving criminal penalties for marijuana
- drug legalizationPermitting controlled substances officially
legalized, legality, legalization, illegality, legalizing, legalise, legalised, legalising, legalizes