1. to remove criminal penalties or legal prohibitions from (an action or substance); to make something no longer illegal
Usage: British spelling; American English typically uses 'decriminalize'; transitive verb

Examples

• Several countries have voted to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of cannabis.
• The government plans to decriminalise abortion in the coming legislative session.
• Advocates argue that decriminalising drug use would reduce prison overcrowding.
• The law was changed to decriminalise homosexuality in the 1960s.
• Public health experts support decriminalising mental health crises rather than treating them as criminal matters.