How to Use legalize in a Sentence

legalize

verb
Definition of legalizenext
Synonyms for legalizenext
  • To the writer who thinks that legalizing recreational marijuana is a good idea, think again.
    — Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2024
  • Many states were happy to legalize sports gambling, enticed by the opportunity for more tax revenue.
    — Jared Bahir Browsh, The Conversation, 10 May 2024
  • In Kentucky, medical cannabis was legalized last year when Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law.
    — Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 17 July 2024
  • This reaches beyond the business world and its billions of dollars in television deals, merchandise, video games, legalized online gambling and of course compensation.
    — Lz Granderson, The Mercury News, 16 May 2024
  • Portland, Oregon, where accessory dwelling units have been legalized since 1981, showed a similar trend.
    — Killian Baarlaer, The Enquirer, 14 July 2024
  • The wave of new products stems from the Agricultural Improvement Act, also known as the farm bill, which legalized hemp, a close cousin of marijuana.
    — Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Zoe Jaeger, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 27 June 2024
  • The effect of legalizing death care is not just the hostile takeover of medicine.
    — Alexander Raikin, National Review, 14 Sep. 2023
  • Thailand was the first country in Asia to legalize cannabis.
    — Jintamas Saksornchai, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2024
  • The bill would not have legalized the sale of the substances and would have barred any possession of the substances on school grounds.
    — CBS News, 7 Oct. 2023
  • Washington was one of the first two states, along with Colorado, to legalize the use and sale of cannabis by adults in 2012.
    — Gene Johnson, ajc, 8 Apr. 2023
  • Now, Kentucky is one of 38 states that has legalized sports betting.
    — C.l. Brown, The Courier-Journal, 29 May 2023
  • The decline in drinking over the past decade has come as many states have legalized marijuana.
    — Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Jan. 2024
  • In 2016, the state legalized open carry for permit holders; then the legislature got rid of the need for a permit.
    — Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2023
  • Twenty-one states have now legalized the recreational use of cannabis by adults.
    — Gene Johnson, Andrew Selsky, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Apr. 2023
  • But five years ago this month, the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban, allowing states to legalize sports betting.
    — The Week Staff, The Week, 21 May 2023
  • The Supreme Court in May 2018 made a ruling to grant states the power to legalize sports betting at their choosing, with their own rules and regulations.
    — Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2023
  • Over the past decade, there has been a trend toward legalizing marijuana in the United States.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN, 20 Apr. 2023
  • Washington became the first state to legalize the practice in 2019.
    — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 17 June 2023
  • The infractions occurred within a week of the state legalizing sports betting on Jan. 31.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
  • More than two years since cannabis was legalized in the state, only 26 dispensaries, and just 11 of them in New York City, have actually opened their doors.
    — Curbed, 18 Oct. 2023
  • But some of the businesses have run afoul of the law, even as states such as New Mexico have legalized marijuana.
    — Emily Feng, NPR, 24 June 2024
  • Some rural and coastal Oregon counties legalized self-serve gas at night starting in 2015.
    — oregonlive, 4 Aug. 2023
  • Over 300 laws are set to go into effect Saturday — the same day that cannabis will be legalized for adult recreational use.
    — Hannah Gaskill, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2023
  • The laws legalized the cultivation of hemp, including for the sale of the consumable hemp products.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2024
  • The proposal aims to legalize protection of the bees and promote awareness of the insects as an important part of the region’s ecosystem.
    — Rosa Chávez Yacila, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024
  • Then, in 1931, everything changed when Nevada became the first state to legalize gambling, as well as the first to offer quickie divorces.
    — Chris Carra, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
  • Yes, Because of danger to the mothers life. Should Texas expand casino gambling and legalize sports betting in Texas?
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024
  • This spike is due to a 2018 Supreme Court decision that allowed for states to legalize the activity.
    — David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024
  • The decision does not legalize possession of small amounts for personal use, but it will no longer be treated as a crime.
    — Simone Iglesias / Bloomberg, TIME, 26 June 2024
  • As a result, an effort to legalize and regulate the units failed in City Council earlier this year.
    — Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 4 Oct. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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