WNBA's Brittney Griner arrested in Russia on drug charges
Source: AP
WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was arrested last month at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges.
The Russian Customs Service said Saturday that the cartridges were identified as containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The customs service identified the person arrested as a player for the U.S. womens team and did not specify the date of her arrest. Russian media reported the player was Griner, and her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, did not dispute those reports.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-entertainment-sports-moscow-brittney-griner-7b2cfe5f9726c8620251e85ad5aa6bc9
Kittycatkat
(1,356 posts)ForgoTheConsequence
(4,868 posts)The news is just coming out now. She has been detained for 3 weeks.
Kittycatkat
(1,356 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Kittycatkat
(1,356 posts)GB_RN
(2,347 posts)Jesus H. Christ on a stick. That's insane.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)Id love to see things in China, but not willing to risk being made a victim of anything by the CCP, just because they could.
Igel
(35,296 posts)When I spent time abroad I asked around. I see postings on SEELangs from new-ish faculty asking what are the obvious things their students heading for study abroad should take and do and what they under no circumstances should take or do.
When in Rome ... Or the Russian equivalent, "Don't take your order's rulebook to another monastery."
hlthe2b
(102,218 posts)the Middle East, Turkey parts of Asia, and other counties governed by regimes with authoritarian rule and a decided lack of civil rights protections about how they view drugs--almost any drug has a lot to answer for. Of course, these players are adults and should have informed themselves, but given many Americans don't have much appreciation for the differences and risks of the wider world, I am not surprised they do not.
None of this is new. It has long been the case that even Asian countries like Singapore take a dim view of drugs, any drugs, and yes, even cannabis residue. How could the WNBA not have had a discussion with these players before traveling?
I fear for her ability to be released without facing the impacts of all that is going on now. Not good.
GB_RN
(2,347 posts)It fell down on the job. But yeah, Brittney should still have had better judgment. Authoritarian countries and any Muslim nation is a no-go with drugs.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)yaesu
(8,020 posts)would be interesting to find out. Regardless, sadly, she will now be used as a pawn, probably one of many.
ToxMarz
(2,166 posts)I can't know if she forgot she had it or didn't care, but that is just a stupid thing to do, TRAVELING ANYWHERE.
Peregrine Took
(7,413 posts)yaesu
(8,020 posts)sentence of 2-10 years with a fine of up to $20,000 ($212,187 in todays money). In 1970 Congress finally repealed most of the mandatory penalties for drug-related offenses. But, it all started up again under Raygon in 1986.
GB_RN
(2,347 posts)And making it worse by militarizing the police, and mandatory minimums, etc.
St Ronnie Raygun was anything but
Response to ToxMarz (Reply #6)
muriel_volestrangler This message was self-deleted by its author.
Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)But would NEVER take them out of the country. That's practically begging for prison time.
GB_RN
(2,347 posts)From CO to NC, but yeah. Id never go out of the country with any.
Dont know that Id do it with even regular vape carts.
róisín_dubh
(11,791 posts)but Benadryl has to do when Im abroad (as at the moment).
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,338 posts)Get out now.
Sneederbunk
(14,289 posts)vaping cannabis oil. May have difficulty getting widespread US sympathy.
LetMyPeopleVote
(145,119 posts)Sneederbunk
(14,289 posts)Mawspam2
(727 posts)Martin68
(22,791 posts)the risk is simply not worth it. She should have known better. You can add Japan, Turkey, Iran, North Korea, and many other countries to that list.
mackdaddy
(1,525 posts)May be perfectly legal in much of the US, but obviously not such a good idea to take to a totalitarian Mob run state like Russia.
Hope she can get it straightened out. According to former US ambassador McFaul there are several US citizens being held in Russian prisons unjustly in his opinion.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)NT
GB_RN
(2,347 posts)I do know from my chemistry classes that while its chemically identical to THC, its structurally different from THC.
There is some CBD in cannabis, but not much. Same in reverse: Theres a little THC found in hemp, but not enough to get you high, and in both cases, not really enough to make it worth the $ trying to collect it.
oasis
(49,376 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(22,323 posts)The first cop to abolish is the one in your head.
ForgoTheConsequence
(4,868 posts)Until we get a statement from Griner herself (on home soil, not coerced) people should reserve judgment.