Brittney Griner Sentenced To 9 Years In Russia Over Marijuana Vape Cartridges

WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison after finding her guilty of cannabis possession and smuggling Thursday.

Griner told the Russian court “I want the court to understand that this was an honest mistake that I made while rushing, under stress, trying to recover from COVID and just trying to get back to my team,” she said.

Griner pleaded guilty to the charges in her trial which began in July.

The White House released a statement after Griner’s sentencing, condemning it.

Biden has vowed to “work tirelessly” to bring Griner and home “as soon as possible.”

Griner was attempting to board a flight at a Moscow airport back to the states in Feb. when officials found the marijuana vape cartridges in her luggage.

Photo credit: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters