Britney Greiner, WNBA basketball player and Olympic gold medalist, was arrested in Russia after customs officials discovered hemp vape cartridges inside her luggage. The exact date she was arrested is unclear, but reports now say it was in February.
Griner is well-known for traveling to Russia, where she has played for teams in the WNBA off-season. Many female athletes supplement their income by playing overseas during winter months, and recently, Griner has also played for Russia UMMC Ekaterinburg in FIBA Women's EuroLeague play.
Her arrest spotlights the troubling trend of American athletes facing significant international consequences for possession of cannabis – even as cannabis legalization spreads across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and many other countries.
The WNBA All-Star has drawn the attention of the criminal justice system in Russia concerning recreational or medicinal cannabis. In her case, possession can carry up to 10 years in prison if found with just two grams in her luggage.
When the news of Greiner's detainment by Russian authorities came to light, it sent waves across social media. The main question that arose: how did this remain silent for so long? One would think such an arrest would be headline news and all over the internet. Surprisingly there hasn't been any mention of one of the biggest stars in women's basketball being arrested in Russia.
Greiner is a professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky. As one of WNBA's biggest stars, she still has to work off-season to supplement her pay. Most WNBA players also have to travel overseas and play in E.U. basketball leagues. Not being accustomed to laws in other countries has led to incidents like Greiner's.
The Russian government and the U.S. government have made very few official statements about her arrest. This leads to the question- why? We hope this incident is dealt with quickly and Greiner will be back home soon.
