[mmjaa]

> decriminalization

Criminalization means, they send the police to address the issue.

De-criminalizaton means, they no longer send the police to address the issue.

This isn't hand-waving, the term really means what has happened: since people are no longer treated as criminals, humanity has been added to the mix - and, appears to be helping solve the problem.

I think you maybe just don't understand the term. Yes, in fact, de-criminalization is the key issue: patients, not criminals.