Brittney Griner is now raising awareness about traveling with prescribed medicines. This follows her release after being imprisoned in Russia for ten months. To help people avoid similar problems when traveling with their medication, the WNBA star co-founded Zennjet. This company offers legal help and travel insurance for medical cannabis users.
Her advocacy comes after her 2022 arrest and imprisonment in Russia. Authorities found cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage. Griner had a prescription for medical cannabis to treat off-season pain and insisted she had no intention of bringing banned substances into the country.
“Education is key,” the 35-year-old told USA Today. “Taking that bit of time can save you a lot of heartache, a lot of money, a lot of time.”
“I never want anybody to go through what I went through. I’m aware that I’m very blessed and very lucky to have an agency team, my wife, and everybody behind me,” she said. “I want people to be able to be aware, informed, and to know where they’re going, where they’re traveling.”
Griner, who was traveling to play professional basketball in Russia during the WNBA offseason, described her situation as an extreme worst-case scenario for international travelers.
“They take you, detain you, they literally will strip you of everything you have and all communication is gone. So, for me it was. It was a very scary moment,” she recounted. “They’re talking to me in Russian. I don’t speak Russian. There’s no translator. They go grab this lady from the duty-free store to … translate for me, who is not a translator. She works at the duty-free store.”
Brittney Griner, now playing for the Atlanta Dream WNBA, was released in a prisoner exchange after serving ten months in a Russian prison. While detained, officials pressured Griner to sign documents in Russian before she could contact her agent and her wife, who is a lawyer. She pleaded guilty to the charges.
“Being a political pawn is definitely different than what a lot of people will experience,” Griner said. “I hope no one else experiences what I experienced.”
Every country has its own regulations about prescription medication and controlled substances, so it’s important to do your research into exactly what’s allowed before you travel to avoid any possible complications at the border.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends checking with embassies in the countries you’re planning to visit.
Griner and Christopher Macolini, Zennjet’s chief intelligence officer, acknowledge that no matter how careful you are, there are still risks when traveling internationally with prescription medication.
“They can be stopped at the border or at the airport when coming in, and a lot of times they’ll find prescription medication that’s not allowed in a country, or it could be prescription medication that they’ve taken out of the original container,” Macolini said. “That can be an issue as well.”
While arrests for carrying banned or restricted prescription drugs are rare, Macolini and Griner warn that overseas customs officials may still confiscate the medication, posing a major health risk for dependent travelers.
To prevent accidentally including prohibited items in her luggage, Griner said she now keeps separate bags for domestic and travel use and meticulously checks her belongings before every trip.
“Going through our bags, checking every pocket,” she said. “If I’m moving around with certain medications, making sure that I don’t use a bag that I would use for traveling, so there’s just no cross-contamination.”
Griner also suggested that travelers research what is and is not permitted ahead of time to help ensure a more comfortable journey.
“Educate yourself before you’re going, even if it’s somewhere that you’ve traveled and all your friends travel to a lot,” she remarked. “I tell people: look it up, look up their laws, look up what can I bring.”
READ ALSO: Brittney Griner Details Shocking Conditions She Endured While In A Russian Prison
Macolini added that it is equally important to bring all necessary documentation.
“The biggest thing is to become aware, prior to traveling, of what’s allowed and not allowed,” he said. “Always travel with a copy of the prescription. Make sure any prescription medication is carried in an original container with your name on it.”
Zennjet offers its members the service of registering their trips and receiving comprehensive information regarding the drug and prescription regulations specific to their destinations.
“We did extensive research on all of the countries. Every country has a breakdown of the drugs that are allowed and not allowed,” Macolini said.
Even if a country doesn’t allow you to bring a necessary medication, it doesn’t automatically mean you have to cancel your trip.
“If you know in advance that they don’t accept them there, you can reach out to a local doctor in a country where you’re going, see if you can set up to meet a doctor when you arrive,” Macolini said. “Set up to have that prescription filled locally.”
Griner advised that traveling with prescription drugs requires careful planning and research because international laws on importing medications vary. It’s best to consult a doctor for advice on foreign-compliant alternatives.
