1. no longer treated as a criminal offense by law
Usage: British spelling; American English uses 'decriminalized'

1. past tense and past participle of decriminalize; to remove criminal penalties from an act or substance
Usage: British spelling; American English uses 'decriminalized'

Examples

• Several countries have decriminalised the possession of small amounts of cannabis.
• The government decriminalised homosexuality in 1967.
• Once decriminalised, the substance was no longer prosecuted as a felony.
• Many advocates argue that drug use should be decriminalised to reduce incarceration rates.
• Portugal decriminalised all drugs in 2001 and focused on treatment instead of punishment.
• The decriminalised status of the offense meant fewer arrests and convictions.