Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty to Russian Drug Charges

Merchant of Death who conspires to murder Americans
Smuggler of less than a gram of cannabis oil into Russia

Seems about equal

 

I hope she is getting reliable counsel. I hate everything about her being detained

 

This is all about politics and how it makes Putin look to his people...

 

A couple things. She traveled to RUSSIA and she had to have known she was carrying cannabis oil. So she broke their laws and should do the time.

Bigger picture is why would ANYONE go to Russia or some other authoritarian country where their policies don't align with yours. Americans going anywhere in this world could be a target.

 

Welp she went for a payday. Estimated at 1.5 mill a season to play for a russian oligarch vs her 250k$ annual wnba salary.

Ya know its strange, I was offered 250k a year to go work in Shenzhen... I contemplated it for approximately 1 day, before deciding I would end up in a Chinese detention camp if I did that... Seemed like an easy decision to me, however I'm of the opinion that the US is a country I want to live in despite the idiocy we see daily.

 

To be a United States citizen and live in the United States is a blessing. Some people find this out the hard way. To be honest I haven't followed this story much and could have cared less but since it's in the news time to take a look.

Brittney Griner may not have intended to take cannabis oil on her trip I would say it's unlikely Brittney has never transported cannabis oil on any of her trips both abroad and nationally. If that were the case she wouldn't have had it on her.

For the Russian courts to claim her intent was distribute cannabis oil is just as far fetched as I believe it most likely for personal use and possibly sharing it among her mates.

None the less Brittney got caught with the cannabis oil. To initially claim she didn't have it to start with rings hallow in my mind. Why would the Russians pick on Brittney in the first place? Was she singled out as a scapegoat among many of the other travelers?

Why was Brittney in Russia to start with?

I woke up to the phone ringing just after 5 a.m. in Portland. My colleague was calling from the East Coast. “Lindz, it’s BG. She’s been taken into custody at the airport. She has her phone and can text.” Brittney Griner, who had spent several WNBA offseasons starring for UMMC Ekaterinburg, an elite Russian basketball club team, had been traveling back to Ekaterinburg from the U.S., connecting in Moscow when she was detained. She was now in the custody of Russian officials at the airport and, for the next several hours, I tracked her location on my phone and continued texting her, trying to stay with her as long as I could.​

So we find out she has been playing with an elite Russian Basketball team in the off season not that I have any issue with that. Make the money where you can. But knowing this bit of information tells me Brittney was well aware of the laws and what could possibly happen if she were to get caught.

The other aspect here is she got caught on her return trip no doubt going through customs in Moscow. This raises other questions that need some resolution. Did Brittney take the cannibus oil with her or did she obtain the cannibus oil while in Ekaterinburg? If no where did she get it from? Given US foreign policy concerning Russia why go in the first place? Given US foreign policy what would Russia hope to gain from detaining Brittney?

Too many questions and not enough answers.

 

It was stupid to carry cannabis oil or any substance into Russia where it's illegal. But I have no right to call anyone stupid since I don't even know what cannabis oil is. (Cannabis is marijuana, right? I didn't know you could oil yourself up with it. For kinky sex?)

 

Very interesting. Seems clear that she got the CBD oil in Russia.

This screams set up.

The only question remaining, is whether BG was/is a willing accomplice.

Heres how it likely went: Putin agent offers her big $$$ to take hit w CBD oil--which is categorically benign to US public--Russia permits her access to tv to generate public sentiment and public pressure on Biden to cough up the MOD for BG....

Smells to hell.

I was sympathetic to BG b4, but now feel like we're being played, and that she's in on the big joke.

Plea today, and leak of info that it was CBD oil, and not even pot...that's awful clean...and not very plausible as an innocent mistake that wasn't detected on way in, but was detected on way out???

Sounds very much like she is in on the ploy.

 

Derivative of same plant yes, but CBD oil has the hallucinogenic component (THC) removed.

....rendering it just another vegetable oil (albeit spendy and trendy).

I doubt Russia even gives a shit about something so benign.

We're being played.

 

Its for vaping or topical/oral dosing, so you dont have to smoke it

 

Sounds like someone needs to get out of the house more

 

According to reports the cannibis oil cartridges are used for vape. Another aspect is Brittney plays for WNBA Phoenix Mercury (Az) where cannibis oil is legal for recreational use.

I did point out the claim by the courts was intent to distribute which I find hard to believe. If it was a plant why would you plant less than 1 gram?

 

I mean, its not like people have not been locked up in rather absurd circumstances here over minor drug charges. It sucks to be a geopolitical pawn, but on the same token, her fame is an asset here for her getting back to the US.

 

Bc its complete BS.

Else why would she plead guilty?

 

Her fame may be an asset to some. Personally I didn't have a clue who this woman was until today. What is that fame worth to the United States government is the question.

 

Same reason many criminals and yes sometimes innocent people do. A plea deal is better than spending 10yrs behind bars.

 

Good grief...I'm at a loss for words.

 

...and far more compellingly, for Putin to use to tweak public sentiment for her freedom, and to look past the transgressions of the MOD.