legalize
v.to make something that was against the law allowed by the law.
v.to make an action or practice lawful by legislative or judicial action.
“The government plans to legalize certain types of medicine.”
“After years of public debate, the country voted to legalize the sale of specific products that were previously banned.”
“Proponents argue that the decision to legalize the industry will generate significant tax revenue and reduce the influence of black-market operations.”
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
You legalize an activity or a substance, not the law itself; laws are passed, amended, or repealed.
“He has previously said he personally believes that funding for end-of-life care in the UK should be improved before legalising assisted dying is considered.”
“Photograph: Charlotte Caldwell He is alive and free of seizures, and is something of a celebrity: the boy who helped to legalise cannabis-based medicine in the UK.”
From legal + -ize. Piecewise doublet of loyalize.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.