“The action or process of ceasing to treat something as illegal or as a
criminal offense.” - Oxford Dictionary

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“Decriminalization is the removal of criminal sanctions and penalties for
simple drug possession for all people.” - Canadian Drug Policy Coalition

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“Decriminalization is an evidence-based policy strategy to reduce the
harms associated with the criminalization of illicit drugs. For those who
use illicit drugs, these harms include criminal records, stigma, high-risk
consumption patterns, overdose and the transmission of blood-borne
disease. Decriminalization aims to decrease harm by removing mandatory
criminal sanctions, often replacing them with responses that promote
access to education and to harm reduction and treatment services. It is not
a single approach or intervention; rather it describes a range of principles,
policies and practices that can be implemented in various ways.”

- Jesseman and Payer, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction