Brittney Griner, WNBA star and Phoenix Mercury heart since 2013, faces drug smuggling charges after being discovered with hashish vape cartridges in her carry-on baggage at a Moscow airport in February, based on Russian authorities.
She is within the custody of Russian authorities, USA TODAY learned on Saturday.
Russian Federal Customs Service introduced on Saturday {that a} two-time Olympic basketball champion and member of the U.S. nationwide group had been detained for carrying cannabis-derived oil cartridges, which may probably result in a most of a 10-year jail sentence.
The participant was recognized as Griner by the Russian state-owned information company TASS.
Legal guidelines about possessing hashish merchandise differ by state and nation, which can have an effect on what occurs to an individual touring with one.
Here’s what it’s best to learn about touring with hashish merchandise:
Within the U.S., marijuana continues to be unlawful federally
Whereas marijuana is authorized for adults in some U.S. states, together with Arizona, below federal regulation it’s nonetheless unlawful, so it isn’t advisable to move it over state strains.
THC is the first psychoactive substance in marijuana. CBD is a non-psychoactive element of hashish that’s usually bought different merchandise reminiscent of lotions and dietary supplements.
Sure cannabis-infused merchandise, together with CBD oil, are unlawful on the federal stage in the event that they comprise greater than 0.3 % of THC on a dry weight foundation.
It isn’t clear if the cartridges that Russian officers says Griner was carrying had both or each CBD or THC.
The Food and Drug Administration has only approved one cannabis-derived product, Epidiolex, which has a purified type of CBD, the company stated in January 2021, and three artificial cannabis-related drug merchandise: Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol) and Cesamet (nabilone). These are solely obtainable with prescriptions by licensed healthcare suppliers.
TSA would not seek for medicine
Transportation Security Administration officers are required to report suspected violations of regulation to native state, or federal authorities, however they don’t seek for unlawful medicine throughout the screenings.
“TSA safety officers don’t seek for marijuana or different unlawful medicine, but when any unlawful substance is found throughout safety screening, TSA will refer the matter to a regulation enforcement officer,” the web site states.
TSA stated their canine aren’t sniffing for marijuana both. Nonetheless, on an Instagram post they reiterated that if throughout the screening a substance that seems to be marijuana or a hashish infused product is discovered, regulation enforcement can be notified, even whether it is used for medicinal functions.
Touring internationally with hashish merchandise
There isn’t any particular steering for touring with hashish merchandise internationally, however as federal legal guidelines apply to anybody, if a product is prohibited in a rustic, touring with it may convey penalties.
For instance, hashish is authorized for adults in Canada however the government website for travel and tourism states it’s unlawful to move these merchandise throughout Canadian borders whatever the quantity of hashish and medical authorizations.
“Hashish is prohibited in most international locations. For those who attempt to journey internationally with any quantity of hashish in your possession, you possibly can face critical legal penalties each at residence and overseas,” the Canadian authorities web site states.
Column:Will Russians do the smart thing and free Mercury center Brittney Griner?
This is applicable even when the particular person is touring to or from a spot the place hashish has been decriminalized, based on the web site. Penalties for touring with hashish merchandise consists of being denied entry right into a nation.
“You could possibly be denied entry at your vacation spot nation if in case you have beforehand used hashish or any substance prohibited by native legal guidelines,” the web site states. “You may be denied entry to different international locations sooner or later.”
Two girls arrested lately for related causes in Russia
In Russia, marijuana is prohibited for leisure and medical functions.
An Israeli-American girl was arrested at a Moscow airport in April 2019 as she was touring from India to Israel and 9 grams of marijuana had been present in her baggage, BBC News reported.
Naama Issachar, 26, was sentenced to greater than seven years in jail for drug trafficking costs. The BBC reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned her in January 2020 forward of a go to of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister in the meanwhile, to Moscow.
A New York-based movie scholar was charged with drug possession in St. Petersburg for allegedly taking medical marijuana into the nation, The Moscow Times reported in September 2019.
CBS News reported Audrey Lorber was detained when she arrived in St. Petersburg for trip and authorities discovered about 19 grams of marijuana on her. She stated the drug was for medical causes and confirmed the prescription however police stated it wasn’t legitimate in Russia, CBS reported.
Lorber spent greater than a month in a detention sentence. A court docket in St. Petersburg fined her for 15,000 rubles or $230 after discovering her responsible.
Nonetheless, not all are satisfied Griner’s arrest is simply an instance of Russia imposing its drug legal guidelines amongst vacationers. U.S. Hashish Council CEO Steven Hawkins stated in a press release Sunday that “hashish possession, alleged or actual, is routinely used as a pretext by regulation enforcement world wide to focus on disfavored people and teams.
“On this case, Russian authorities seem like utilizing alleged hashish possession as a pretext for holding a distinguished American as leverage. Brittney Griner should not be used as a pawn by Russia. We urge the U.S. authorities to make use of all obtainable channels to safe her speedy return residence.”
Attain breaking information reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at [email protected] or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP.
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