system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What is the difference between something being "decriminalized" vs. legal?
gpt
"Decriminalized" is still illegal, it just doesn't carry criminal penalties, e.g. prison time.

Traffic violations, for instance, are illegal but not criminal. Still punishable by law, but typically only with fines or demerit points.