Brittney Griner lawyers tell court she was prescribed medical cannabis due to chronic pain

(Image credit: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

published 15 July 2022

As Brittney Griner's drug trial in Russia continues, her lawyers have presented evidence in court that she was prescribed medical cannabis.

During a hearing on Friday, the basketball star's attorneys showed a letter from a doctor recommending the use of cannabis for treating chronic pain, according to The Associated Press and CNN.

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President Biden has faced growing pressure to secure Griner's release from Russia, and the WNBA star in a letter to the president said she's "terrified I might be here forever." The U.S. has classified Griner as "wrongfully detained," and Biden spoke with Griner's wife in a phone call in July. The White House said he assured her that he's "working to secure Brittney's release as soon as possible."

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

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