de ‧ crim ‧ in ‧ a ‧ lize BrE AmE ( also decriminalise British English ) /diːˈkrɪmənəlaɪz, diːˈkrɪmɪnəlaɪz/ verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ crime , ↑ criminal , ↑ criminologist , ↑ criminology ; verb : ↑ incriminate , ↑ criminalize ≠ ↑ decriminalize ; adjective : ↑ criminal , ↑ incriminating ; adverb : ↑ criminally ]
to state officially that something is not illegal any more:
a campaign to decriminalize cannabis
—decriminalization /diːˌkrɪmənəlaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n, diːˌkrɪmɪnəlaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ -lə-/ noun [uncountable]