Griner's lawyers tell Russian court she was prescribed medical cannabis

This content material was developed in Russia where by the legislation restricts protection of Russian army functions in Ukraine.

KHIMKI, Russia, July 15 (Reuters) – Attorneys defending U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner informed a Russian court on Friday she was recommended health-related cannabis in the United States for a continual injury, a Reuters journalist at the courtroom noted.

Griner pled guilty to medicine fees which carry a jail sentence of up to 10 yrs soon after she was detained at a Moscow airport in February carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil.

The Women’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation (WNBA) star appeared in court docket donning a Nirvana t-shirt on Friday for the fourth hearing in the demo. She has reported she did not intend to crack the regulation, and U.S. President Joe Biden has said the United States is accomplishing every little thing it can to secure her launch.

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The Kremlin has downplayed the plan of a prisoner exchange, indicating it is premature to explore the chance of swapping Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, for a Russian imprisoned in the United States.

U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and later on charged with illegal possession of hashish, is escorted ahead of a courtroom hearing in Khimki outdoors Moscow, Russia, July, 15, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Griner’s protection crew submitted paperwork on Friday arguing she “inadvertently” introduced the vape cartridges into Russia and had a allow issued in the point out of Arizona for the use of professional medical cannabis.

“The defense right now furnished created evidence, which includes character components, healthcare documents and tax returns,” Griner’s attorney, Maria Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners, informed Reuters.

“Among the health-related files is a doctor’s take note for the substance that Brittney Griner inadvertently left amongst her belongings when crossing the border,” she stated.

In a listening to on Thursday, a Russian basketball club director gave evidence in assist of Griner, talking of her “superb skill” and “particular contribution to strengthening staff spirit.” examine a lot more

Griner, who performs for the Phoenix Mercury in the United States was scheduled to engage in for Russian group UMMC Ekaterinburg in the off-year – a common move for WNBA gamers. Griner initial performed in Russia in the 2014-15 year, and had prior stints in China.