OT Brittney Griner Sentenced for 9 years

[AussieCeltic]

It’s funny how people think that other countries should adopt our laws. Why?

...common sense? How about, try to rationalize why carrying weed should be a crime and why it should be a 9 year jail sentence. Alcohol is more dangerous both acutely and long-term and it's legal. Cigarettes are basically just legal slow acting poison. Does carrying weed harm anyone? Steve kerr literally uses it for back pain. A lot of celebrities have medicinal prescriptions for it before it was legalized in some states.

She broke a law so she should be punished, but why is controversial to call out a law in a country run by a dangerous luantic who sent young men to die in a conflict they don't necessarily agree with.

The rest of the world thinks your gun laws are stupid. Should you change them because of what the rest of the world thinks?

Once again, I don’t believe she should be jailed and I don’t believe weed should be illegal, that doesn’t mean you can just go and do whatever you want in a different country and think nothing will happen “bEcAuSe AmErIcA”.

If you go to the UAE, you can’t even kiss in public. One that has seen many tourists locked up for months. Do I agree with it? No. Did I kiss my wife when we were there? Heck no.

Many countries have stupid laws that western cultures wouldn’t agree with, that doesn’t give you or any other person the right to break those laws.

[JayMKE]

Biden admin should do what it takes to bring her and other Americans home.

[jswede]

Biden admin should do what it takes to bring her and other Americans home.

Clueless

[Johnny Bball]

I agree. But it's not just a bunch of idiots here who love the drug war. It's beloved by a substantial portion of the world's population and governments. It's not much of a shock that this forum would have some of the same opinions.

Unfortunately for Griner, she went to a country that holds that opinion.

People with access to information and the freedom to speak should know better and act better. They don’t have an excuse for their stupidity in the subject. They are either willfully ignorant or fascist or -as is often the case- both.

So that's what it is? People who hold those positions are just a bunch of rubes who either won't learn or will get punished for speaking out? And anyone who believes the drug war is a good thing is just a fascist? Ok, whatever makes you feel better.

I mean you may hate to see the truth, but many people believe in harsh punishments for the "betterment" of society. I don't, I think it's stupid, but those who disagree aren't just a bunch of fascist yokels. They honestly believe their position produces a better society.

But how are they not? Its a war so they can selectively jail almost anyone they want. That's what the war on drugs is for. To disenfranchise an entire group of people/the electorate. The war on drugs itself at its very core is racist. How is that not literally fascist?

Of course they could just be ignorant.

[Pharmcat]

As someone with a recent speeding ticket for 12 over, this hits the ol' heart. Fn big brother and their Colorado sanctioned speed cameras.

On that note, they got me so I'll pay - even though i dont have to until physically served, but if they serve me it'l ~double so I'll just pay it.

We all break laws, every single one of us. When you get caught though, the difference is whether or not you can admit you f'd up or not (regardless of your views on said law).

I don't know if somehow this evolved from prior discussion but this post specifically has absolutely no relevance to the Griner situation.

Paying a fine sucks but if someone were to come to you and throw you into jail for 9 years because you went 12 over I don't think you'd shrug it off.

I think everyone here agrees that Griner was at fault for bringing in the cartridges. However, some are trying to whitewash the exorbitant sentencing with that fact instead of acknowledging the obvious that it's a grossly unfair length for the crime and politically motivated.

If the penalty for speeding were 9 years in prison, people here would riot up and end it. And because of that fact, it would never get to that point.

I don't see many Russians rioting up to get rid of 9 years in prison for a thc filled vape pen. Everyone can make all sorts of excuses for why that's the case, but I'll go with the simple one. Most people there agree with the law, or are at the very least indifferent towards it.

You do know dissidents in Russia get poisoned right? It’s a iron clad fascist country that quells any protests quickly

[Pharmcat]

Biden admin should do what it takes to bring her and other Americans home.

US made an offer . But Russia won’t engage until this Ukraine thing is figured out imo since we are supplying Ukraine with weapons

[Nate505]

People with access to information and the freedom to speak should know better and act better. They don’t have an excuse for their stupidity in the subject. They are either willfully ignorant or fascist or -as is often the case- both.

So that's what it is? People who hold those positions are just a bunch of rubes who either won't learn or will get punished for speaking out? And anyone who believes the drug war is a good thing is just a fascist? Ok, whatever makes you feel better.

I mean you may hate to see the truth, but many people believe in harsh punishments for the "betterment" of society. I don't, I think it's stupid, but those who disagree aren't just a bunch of fascist yokels. They honestly believe their position produces a better society.

How are they not? Its a war so they can selectively jail almost anyone they want, selectively. That's what the war on drugs is for. To disenfranchise an entire group of people/the electorate. The war on drugs itself at its very core is racist. How is that not literally fascist?

From the perspective of many who are for the drug war, it's about preventing the scourge of drugs from ravaging their societies. I mean, China had a war over allowing opium in the past. In fact, it's a policy that seems to transcend politics in Asia. China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia...probably more than the exceptions I can't even think of...all freely participate in the drug war and are pretty gung ho about it.

[Nate505]

I don't know if somehow this evolved from prior discussion but this post specifically has absolutely no relevance to the Griner situation.

Paying a fine sucks but if someone were to come to you and throw you into jail for 9 years because you went 12 over I don't think you'd shrug it off.

I think everyone here agrees that Griner was at fault for bringing in the cartridges. However, some are trying to whitewash the exorbitant sentencing with that fact instead of acknowledging the obvious that it's a grossly unfair length for the crime and politically motivated.

If the penalty for speeding were 9 years in prison, people here would riot up and end it. And because of that fact, it would never get to that point.

I don't see many Russians rioting up to get rid of 9 years in prison for a thc filled vape pen. Everyone can make all sorts of excuses for why that's the case, but I'll go with the simple one. Most people there agree with the law, or are at the very least indifferent towards it.

You do know dissidents in Russia get poisoned right? It’s a iron clad fascist country that quells any protests quickly

Yes, I get that Russia doesn't tolerate dissidents. That said, if Russia decided to ban vodka tomorrow, I doubt it would just be accepted by the public because Russia poisons their dissidents.

[Johnny Bball]

So that's what it is? People who hold those positions are just a bunch of rubes who either won't learn or will get punished for speaking out? And anyone who believes the drug war is a good thing is just a fascist? Ok, whatever makes you feel better.

I mean you may hate to see the truth, but many people believe in harsh punishments for the "betterment" of society. I don't, I think it's stupid, but those who disagree aren't just a bunch of fascist yokels. They honestly believe their position produces a better society.

How are they not? Its a war so they can selectively jail almost anyone they want, selectively. That's what the war on drugs is for. To disenfranchise an entire group of people/the electorate. The war on drugs itself at its very core is racist. How is that not literally fascist?

From the perspective of many who are for the drug war, it's about preventing the scourge of drugs from ravaging their societies. I mean, China had a war over allowing opium in the past. In fact, it's a policy that seems to transcend politics in Asia. China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia...probably more than the exceptions I can't even think of...all freely participate in the drug war and are pretty gung ho about it.

Guy... half of those enable the drug war and literal drug production all while selectively jailing who they want as well. Often for life. None of this means people should not continue to speak out about it.

And Thailand is one of my favourite places ever, and would live there in a heartbeat, but lets not pretend they even care to enforce the law in the north.

[KrAzY3]

Any former nba guy playing in China right now should take notice: this could be you if war breaks out over Taiwan. If it isn’t weed, they’ll find another excuse.

Honestly it's kind of what you get when you choose to work in a country run by a despotic government. You are putting yourself in a dangerous position.

[CobraCommander]

No one in any country should be in a cage over weed.

Russia doesn't feel that way...

Do you really think Russia arrested/convicted/sentenced Griner to nine years of hard labor because she allegedly had .702 grams of cannabis oil in her luggage (less than the weight of a pen cap or a stick of gum)? If you do, I have a bridge to sell you...in my native Brooklyn.

Griner is a pawn, being used by a country with a long history of arresting/convicting innocents.

This thread will (justifiably) be locked soon, but I wanted to add that I fault Griner more for agreeing to return to/work in a country which has been historically anti-LGBTQ (including recent laws passed against this population) as well as historically discriminatory against non-white and/or non-Christian races. Not to mention, she returned to Moscow weeks after Biden had announced that war was imminent and that US citizens should leave. (She arrived in Moscow, and was arrested, on February 17...six days before the Ukraine invasion.) How naive could a person possibly be?

I’m with you on her being a pawn- but there isn’t much doubt that she had the weed right? I feel sorry that her punishment is so sever but I wouldn’t act like, as an American, I should tell Russia how to run THEiR country.

Biden should work to get her out and honestly we should stop pretending we are not actually at war with Russia -

Brittany is the least of our worries with Russia- we are funding weapons that are killing Russians (I’m not saying we shouldn’t support the Ukraine) - at some point someone in Russia going to actually point at us for the lives of their soldiers- a proxy war is not really a problem for people not dying. If Russia loses to the Ukraine it’s gonna be “interesting” between the US and Russia post Putin

[Nate505]

Guy... half of those enable the drug war and literal drug production all while selectively jailing who they want as well. Often for life. None of this means people should not continue to speak out about it.

And Thailand is one of my favourite places ever, and would live there in a heartbeat, but lets not pretend they even care to enforce the law in the north.

I agree people should speak out about it. The only way it will change in those countries though is if their citizens do so, and I haven't seen much of an outcry from them to do so. Hell, the Philippines elected a guy for President who openly bragged about killing citizens who he believed were drug dealers without a trial, and the guy was pretty popular for that.

[TheNewEra]

As someone with a recent speeding ticket for 12 over, this hits the ol' heart. Fn big brother and their Colorado sanctioned speed cameras.

On that note, they got me so I'll pay - even though i dont have to until physically served, but if they serve me it'l ~double so I'll just pay it.

We all break laws, every single one of us. When you get caught though, the difference is whether or not you can admit you f'd up or not (regardless of your views on said law).

I don't know if somehow this evolved from prior discussion but this post specifically has absolutely no relevance to the Griner situation.

Paying a fine sucks but if someone were to come to you and throw you into jail for 9 years because you went 12 over I don't think you'd shrug it off.

I think everyone here agrees that Griner was at fault for bringing in the cartridges. However, some are trying to whitewash the exorbitant sentencing with that fact instead of acknowledging the obvious that it's a grossly unfair length for the crime and politically motivated.

If the penalty for speeding were 9 years in prison, people here would riot up and end it. And because of that fact, it would never get to that point.

I don't see many Russians rioting up to get rid of 9 years in prison for a thc filled vape pen. Everyone can make all sorts of excuses for why that's the case, but I'll go with the simple one. Most people there agree with the law, or are at the very least indifferent towards it.

I don’t remember people here throwing up a storm and rioting when the crime bill by Biden/Harris was targeting certain groups for weed possession. Maybe because it wasn’t a celebrity and we didn’t care and maybe the Russians simply don’t care about Griner to give a damn.

[SalmonsSuperfan]

It’s funny how people think that other countries should adopt our laws. Why?

...common sense? How about, try to rationalize why carrying weed should be a crime and why it should be a 9 year jail sentence. Alcohol is more dangerous both acutely and long-term and it's legal. Cigarettes are basically just legal slow acting poison. Does carrying weed harm anyone? Steve kerr literally uses it for back pain. A lot of celebrities have medicinal prescriptions for it before it was legalized in some states.

She broke a law so she should be punished, but why is controversial to call out a law in a country run by a dangerous luantic who sent young men to die in a conflict they don't necessarily agree with.

bruh the USA has far and away the largest prison population in the world. 20% of the world's prisoners are in a US prison or jail. over 2 million are in prison, 4.5 million more on parole.

your comment is absurd, certainly it isn't "common sense"

[taikibansei]

Russia doesn't feel that way...

Do you really think Russia arrested/convicted/sentenced Griner to nine years of hard labor because she allegedly had .702 grams of cannabis oil in her luggage (less than the weight of a pen cap or a stick of gum)? If you do, I have a bridge to sell you...in my native Brooklyn.

Griner is a pawn, being used by a country with a long history of arresting/convicting innocents.

This thread will (justifiably) be locked soon, but I wanted to add that I fault Griner more for agreeing to return to/work in a country which has been historically anti-LGBTQ (including recent laws passed against this population) as well as historically discriminatory against non-white and/or non-Christian races. Not to mention, she returned to Moscow weeks after Biden had announced that war was imminent and that US citizens should leave. (She arrived in Moscow, and was arrested, on February 17...six days before the Ukraine invasion.) How naive could a person possibly be?

I’m with you on her being a pawn- but there isn’t much doubt that she had the weed right? I feel sorry that her punishment is so sever but I wouldn’t act like, as an American, I should tell Russia how to run THEiR country.

Biden should work to get her out and honestly we should stop pretending we are not actually at war with Russia -

Brittany is the least of our worries with Russia- we are funding weapons that are killing Russians (I’m not saying we shouldn’t support the Ukraine) - at some point someone in Russia going to actually point at us for the lives of their soldiers- a proxy war is not really a problem for people not dying. If Russia loses to the Ukraine it’s gonna be “interesting” between the US and Russia post Putin

As I've posted repeatedly, I have plenty of doubts about the bit in bold. Russia has a long history of making up charges, planting/creating "evidence," arresting and then convicting victims (i.e., anybody the government doesn't like or wants to use as leverage) in show trials. Heck, Alexei Navalny was recently poisoned by a military grade nerve agent (only available to the Russian military); then after he recovered (by being smuggled out of Russia to a German hospital receiving treatment for several months), Alexi returned to Russia only to be immediately arrested/convicted for "fraud" (that he apparently did while lying in a German hospital bed trying not to die).

So, yes, I have doubts that she did anything. Putin knew he was going to invade the Ukraine on February 17 (when Griner was arrested) and likely was collecting collateral for possible trades moving forward. (Feel like I'm discussing Danny Ainge....) I question the timing of this arrest. I've also shared in this very thread links that report Griner's lawyer told her she'd be "okay" and get "leniency" if she pled guilty--obviously lies--and how all the documents she's seen/signed were written in Russian.

Given this, who knows what her confession really means? Maybe Griner did it, but maybe she did not--again, I don't think we'll know unless and until she gets out.

[D.Brasco]

Biden admin should do what it takes to bring her and other Americans home.

US made an offer . But Russia won’t engage until this Ukraine thing is figured out imo since we are supplying Ukraine with weapons

Nope, Russia upped the request to include not only the arms dealer but now a murderer being held in a german jail. They see how BG is becoming a big deal to the US public so they feel they can squeeze more juice in a trade.

Regardless of Ukraine they would probably ask for the same. Americans aside from Griner were and still are being held in Russia before the Ukraine invasion started.

[Johnny Bball]

Does half this board realize that the US is in a proxy war with Russia? The fawning over and defending of Russia is just stupid if you are a US citizen.

[JimmyPlopper]

Does half this board realize that the US is in a proxy war with Russia? The fawning over and defending of Russia is just stupid if you are a US citizen.

yeah unless you are a self-hating, self-sabotaging type

I think there are more of these folks than we had accounted for lol

[Nate505]

I don’t remember people here throwing up a storm and rioting when the crime bill by Biden/Harris was targeting certain groups for weed possession. Maybe because it wasn’t a celebrity and we didn’t care and maybe the Russians simply don’t care about Griner to give a damn.

Probably because they agreed with the bill, or at the very least weren't aware of that provision. Hell, marijuana legalization was pretty unpopular in the country until somewhat recently:

[Little Italia]

Midnight Express 2

Ohhhhh Brittney!!