Decriminalisation: When drug use and possession are decriminalised, criminal charges are not applied. 

Legalisation: Drug legalisation removes all penalties for possession and personal use of a drug.

Decriminalisation of illegal drugs can be a confusing issue, with the terms decriminalisation and legalisation often being conflated in media coverage of the issue. We discuss what it means, why Australians are talking about it and how it works. Many Australians have heard the term decriminalisation without it being clearly defined. Whether it’s a chat over coffee with friends, a disagreement at the family dinner table during holidays or a heated policy debate, it’s critical that everyone understands what decriminalisation means to have an informed discussion about it. This paper outlines what decriminalisation is, its rationale, how it differs from legalisation and some key considerations about decriminalisation models.