Brittney Griner, a WNBA star, was arrested at a Moscow airport in 2022 for possessing an illegal cannabis cartridge. She attributed her mistake to a “mental lapse” for forgetting to remove the cartridge before inspection.
After serving ten months in prison for possessing the illegal cannabis cartridge, which is prohibited in Russia, Griner was released in a prisoner swap for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout.
In a snippet of an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts, Griner addressed those who doubted her ability to forget about the illegal item in her luggage. She compared the lapse to forgetting keys in a car or misplacing glasses or a phone, emphasizing that it was easy to have a mental lapse.
Griner also spoke about her mental state during the search by Russian authorities, expressing concern about public opinion, her family’s reaction, and the potential impact on her career. She lamented the lack of understanding in Russia compared to the US, where she could explain that it was a mistake and an accident.
Further excerpts from the interview are anticipated to be released soon. Griner is set to begin her 11th season with the Phoenix Mercury.
