(of drugs) reduces criminal penalties associated with the personal possession of a controlled substance.

legislation that makes something legal that was formerly illegal

The policy of making the possession of small amounts of a drug subject to a small fine but not a criminal prosecution” ( Levinthal, 154).

Removal of a behaviour or activity from the scope of the criminal justice system. A distinction is usually made between de jure decriminalization, which entails an amendment to criminal legislation, and de facto decriminalization, which involves an administrative decision not to prosecute acts that nonetheless remain against the law. Decriminalization concerns only criminal legislation, and does not mean that the legal system has no further jurisdiction of any kind in this regard: other, non-criminal, laws may regulate the behaviour or activity that has been decriminalized (civil or regulatory offences, etc.).

Removal of criminal penalties for the possession and use of illicit psychoactive substances.

An act of the legislature that makes a criminal act or omission noncriminal.

Decriminalization is the reduction or abolition of criminal penalties in relation to certain acts. The reverse process is criminalization.