via Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
via Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
The Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner has been ‘wrongfully detained’ in a Russian prison under drug possession charges since February 2022. The eight-time All-Star was sentenced to nine years in prison. She admitted to inadvertently bringing vape cartridges filled with cannabis oil to Russia. The Biden Administration is still enacting diplomatic measures to bring Griner home. However, negotiations with Russian officials have yielded no fruitful results yet. Recently, President Joe Biden made a huge decision regarding the possession of marijuana to counter the backlash from the public.
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A large section of Americans have openly criticized the government for sounding hypocritical while requesting Brittney Griner‘s release from Russia. The US government has incarcerated many people in the past under marijuana possession charges. The criticism from the US public has resulted in a major change in policy, as announced by president Joe Biden on October 7.
POTUS makes huge move to counter hypocrisy claims regarding Brittney Griner situation
President Biden recently announced a major change in how marijuana possession cases will be handled in the future. The 79-year-old wrote, ” As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail for using or possessing marijuana. Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out.”
The US president announced that all prior federal and state offenses of simple marijuana possession will be pardoned. The announcement will be a relief for thousands of people who have been denied jobs, housing, and educational opportunities because of simple possession convictions. Joe Biden also addressed the issue of classifying marijuana at the same level as heroin and more fatal than fentanyl. He urged former Attorney General Xavier Beccera and AG Merrick Garland to review the classification of marijuana under federal law.
As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.
Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 6, 2022
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Despite the federal and state regulation change, several limitations will be in place to avoid underage sales, trafficking, and marketing of marijuana. Moreover, the president marked a new beginning to right the wrongs surrounding the use of marijuana and its possession. It is certainly good news for people with marijuana charges.
Biden’s decision in the context of Griner’s release
Joe Biden made the big decision to deal with the hypocrisy claims made by the public. The step to decriminalize drug possession seems to be directed towards BG’s release. The government is doing all it can to bring the WNBA star home.
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What do you think of Biden’s new move? Lets us know your thoughts in the comments.
