[Goose]

I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have received a lengthy prison sentence if she hadn't been useful as a lever to use against US interests.

I am interested in knowing why you believe that. Russian citizens, who are not of much use to anyone it seems, get sentences like that all the time. There is no particular reason to believe, as far as I know, that foreigners are treated any better. A Russian at least might be low visibility enough to bribe somebody if they had enough money. Otherwise, they pretty much get what Griner got.

Sure she needn't have played in Russia but until recently that was the way MANY WNBA stars (and many former Stanford stars) made off-season money.  My guess is this wasn't the first time Griner and others carried CBDs.  I'd never do it, you'd never do it, it was stupid, but athletes aren't known for their wise decisions in this.

You are correct, and such unwise decisions often have horrible consequences. That is why the US State Department has to be much more aggressive in keeping US citizens out of countries where we don't believe the justice system is free from government interference. Note that doesn't include places like Indonesia, where the penalty for possession to sell is death. The law there isn't corrupt, it is just harsh. Talk to the Australian's about it.

[Goose]

I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have received a lengthy prison sentence if she hadn't been useful as a lever to use against US interests.

I am interested in knowing why you believe that. Russian citizens, who are not of much use to anyone it seems, get sentences like that all the time. There is no particular reason to believe, as far as I know, that foreigners are treated any better. A Russian at least might be low visibility enough to bribe somebody if they had enough money. Otherwise, they pretty much get what Griner got.

Sure she needn't have played in Russia but until recently that was the way MANY WNBA stars (and many former Stanford stars) made off-season money.  My guess is this wasn't the first time Griner and others carried CBDs.  I'd never do it, you'd never do it, it was stupid, but athletes aren't known for their wise decisions in this.

You are correct, and such unwise decisions often have horrible consequences. That is why the US State Department has to be much more aggressive in keeping US citizens out of countries where we don't believe the justice system is free from government interference. Note that doesn't include places like Indonesia, where the penalty for possession to sell is death. The law there isn't corrupt, it is just harsh. Talk to the Australian's about it.