# Decriminalization > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Decriminalization > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Decriminalization.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decriminalization > Source revision: 1321592000 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Reduced or absence of a criminal penalty for certain acts, illegal or legal Not to be confused with [legalization](/source/Legalization). **Decriminalization** or **decriminalisation** is the legislative process which removes prosecutions against an action so that the action remains illegal but has no criminal [penalties](/source/Sentence_(law)) or at most some civil fine.[1] This reform is sometimes applied retroactively but otherwise comes into force from either the [enactment](/source/Bill_(law)#Enactment_and_after) of the law or from a specified date. In some cases regulated permits or fines may still apply (for contrast, see: [legalization](/source/Legalization)), and associated aspects of the original criminalized act may remain or become specifically classified as crimes. The term was coined by anthropologist Jennifer James to express sex workers' movements' "goals of removing laws used to target prostitutes", although it is now commonly applied to drug policies.[2] The reverse process is [criminalization](/source/Criminalization). Decriminalization reflects changing social and [moral](/source/Moral) views. A society may come to the view that an act is not harmful, should no longer be criminalized, or is otherwise not a matter to be addressed by the [criminal justice](/source/Criminal_justice) system. Examples of subject matter which have been the subject of changing views on criminality over time in various societies and countries include: - [Abortion](/source/Abortion) (see: [abortion law](/source/Abortion_law) and [abortion-rights movements](/source/Abortion-rights_movements)) - [Assisted suicide](/source/Assisted_suicide) - [Breastfeeding in public](/source/Breastfeeding_in_public) - [Clothing laws](/source/Clothing_laws_by_country) (including [cross-dressing](/source/Cross-dressing), see: [legal issues](/source/Cross-dressing#Legal_issues)) - [Drug possession](/source/Drug_possession) and [recreational drug use](/source/Recreational_drug_use) (see: [drug liberalization](/source/Drug_liberalization)) - [Euthanasia](/source/Euthanasia) (see: [legality of euthanasia](/source/Legality_of_euthanasia)) - [Gambling](/source/Gambling) (see: [gambling age](/source/Gambling_age)) - [Homosexuality](/source/Homosexuality) (see: [decriminalization of homosexuality](/source/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality) and [LGBT rights by country or territory](/source/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory)) - [Polygamy](/source/Polygamy)[3] (see: [legality of polygamy](/source/Legality_of_polygamy)) - [Poverty](/source/Poverty) (see: [criminalization of poverty](/source/Criminalization_of_poverty)) - [Prostitution](/source/Prostitution) and [sex work](/source/Sex_work) (see: [decriminalization of sex work](/source/Decriminalization_of_sex_work)) - [Public nudity](/source/Public_nudity) - [Steroid use in sport](/source/Ergogenic_use_of_anabolic_steroids) - [Suicide](/source/Suicide) (see: [suicide legislation](/source/Suicide_legislation)) In a [federal](/source/Federalism) country, acts may be decriminalized by one level of government while still subject to penalties levied by another; for example, possession of a decriminalized drug may still be subject to criminal charges by one level of government, but another may yet impose a monetary fine. This should be contrasted with [legalization](/source/Legalization), which removes all or most legal detriments from a previously illegal act. Many countries have the practice of not imposing prison sentences for that are considered as illegal but a less serious crime under that country's law, such as personal use of cannabis or personal use of certain other drugs without a prescription from a doctor. ## Drug-use decriminalization topics - [Colorado Amendment 64](/source/Colorado_Amendment_64) - [Law Enforcement Against Prohibition](/source/Law_Enforcement_Against_Prohibition) - [Legal history of cannabis in the United States](/source/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States) - [Legality of cannabis](/source/Legality_of_cannabis) - [Marijuana Policy Project](/source/Marijuana_Policy_Project) - [Psilocybin decriminalization in the United States](/source/Psilocybin_decriminalization_in_the_United_States) - [Responsible drug use](/source/Responsible_drug_use) - [Timeline of cannabis law](/source/Timeline_of_cannabis_law) - [War on drugs](/source/War_on_drugs) ## See also Look up ***[decriminalization](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/decriminalization)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. - [Law portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Law) - [Politics portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Politics) - [Alcohol prohibition](/source/Alcohol_prohibition) - [Decriminalization of sex work](/source/Decriminalization_of_sex_work) - [Drug liberalization](/source/Drug_liberalization) - [Drug policy of the Soviet Union](/source/Drug_policy_of_the_Soviet_Union) - [Legal issues of anabolic steroids](/source/Anabolic_steroid#Legal_and_sport_restrictions) - [Legalization](/source/Legalization) - [Liberalization](/source/Liberalization) - [Prostitution in Belgium](/source/Prostitution_in_Belgium) - [Prostitution in New Zealand](/source/Prostitution_in_New_Zealand) - [Public-order crime](/source/Public-order_crime) - [Sex worker](/source/Sex_worker) - [Social libertarianism](/source/Social_libertarianism) - [Sodomy law](/source/Sodomy_law) - [Timeline of LGBT history](/source/Timeline_of_LGBT_history) - [Unenforced law](/source/Unenforced_law) - [Victimless crime](/source/Victimless_crime) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["decriminalization"](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/decriminalization). *LII / Legal Information Institute*. Retrieved 2023-08-27. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** M. G. Grant, *Playing the Whore* (Verso/Jacobin, 2014), p. 112 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Forum focuses on polygamy woes"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090602152122/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,660214924,00.html). Deseret Morning News. April 25, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,660214924,00.html) on June 2, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-18. v t e Recreational drug use Major recreational drugs Depressants Barbiturates Benzodiazepines Carbamates Ethanol (alcohol) Alcoholic beverage Beer Wine Gabapentinoids GHB Inhalants Medical Nitrous oxide (recreational use) Hazardous solvents contact adhesives Gasoline nail polish remover Paint thinner Other Freon Kava Nonbenzodiazepines Quinazolinones Quaaludes Opioids Buprenorphine Suboxone Subutex Codeine Lean Desomorphine Krokodil Dextropropoxyphene Darvocet Darvon Fentanyl Diamorphine Heroin Hydrocodone Hydromorphone Dilaudid Methadone Mitragyna speciosa Kratom Morphine Opium Oxycodone /paracetamol Tramadol Stimulants Amphetamine Arecoline Areca Betel Caffeine Coffee Energy drinks Tea Cathinone Khat Cocaine Coca Cocaine paste Crack Ephedrine Ephedra MDPV Mephedrone Methamphetamine Methylone Methylphenidate Modafinil Nicotine Polacrilex Salt Tobacco Theobromine Cocoa Chocolate Entactogens 2C series 6-APB Benzofury AMT MDA MDMA Ecstasy Molly Hallucinogens Psychedelics 2C-B 25I-NBOMe 4-AcO-DMT 5-MeO-DMT Psychoactive toads Bufotenin Vilca Yopo DMT Ayahuasca LSA and iso-LSA Morning glory Ergot LSD Mescaline Peruvian torch Peyote San Pedro Psilocybin and psilocin Psilocybin mushrooms Dissociatives DXM (recreational use) Inhalants Nitrous oxide (recreational use) Ketamine MXE PCP Deliriants Atropine and Scopolamine Atropa belladonna Datura Hyoscyamus niger Mandragora officinarum Dimenhydrinate Diphenhydramine Cannabinoids THC Cannabis (Marijuana) Hashish Hash oil Synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 APICA APINACA Spice Others Ibogaine Tabernanthe iboga Muscimol Amanita muscaria Oneirogens Calea zacatechichi Silene capensis Salvinorin A Salvia divinorum Drug culture Cannabis culture 420 Cannabis consumption Cannabis cultivation Cannabis edible Cannabis rights Cannabis rights leaders List of cannabis rights organizations Cannabis smoking Cannabis Social Club Cannabis tea Cannabis vaping Head shop Legal history of cannabis in the United States Legality of cannabis Marijuana Policy Project Medical cannabis Mushroom edible NORML Cannabis and religion Stoner film Coffee culture Coffee break Coffeehouse Latte art Teahouse Drinking culture Bartending Beer culture Beer festival Binge drinking Diethyl ether Drinking games Drinking song Happy hour Hip flask Nightclub Oktoberfest Pub Pub crawl Sommelier Sports bar Tailgate party Wine bar Wine tasting Psychedelia Psychonautics Art Drug Era Experience Literature Music Microdosing Smart shop Therapy Trip report Smoking culture Cigarette card Fashion cigarettes Cloud-chasing Loosie Smokeasy Smoking fetishism Tobacco smoking Other Chasing the dragon Club drug Counterculture of the 1960s Dance party Drug paraphernalia Drug tourism Entheogen Hippie Needle sharing Nootropic Party and play Poly drug use Rave Religion and drugs Self-medication Sex and drugs Urban legends about drugs Whoonga Legality of drug use International International drug control conventions 1961 Narcotic Drugs 1971 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Arguments for and against drug prohibition Cannabis rights Capital punishment for drug trafficking Cognitive liberty Designer drug Drug court Drug possession Drug test Narc Politics of drug abuse War on drugs Mexican drug war Plan Colombia Philippine drug war Zero tolerance Other Drug production and trade Drug production Coca production in Colombia Drug precursors Opium production in Afghanistan Rolling meth lab Government drug experiments MKUltra Edgewood Arsenal human experiments Operation Midnight Climax Drug trade Illegal drug trade Afghanistan Aruba Australia Bangladesh Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Brazil Burma Cambodia Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Cyprus Dominican Republic El Salvador Estonia Finland Germany Haiti Honduras India Indian Ocean region Iran Italy Japan Kenya Kosovo Kyrgyzstan Laos Latin America Latvia Malaysia Mauritius Moldova Nigeria Norway Oman Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Russia Saint Kitts and Nevis Seychelles 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United States France BnF data Israel Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Decriminalization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decriminalization) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decriminalization?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.