(NewsNation) — WNBA star Brittney Griner is advising travelers with prescription medications to practice caution after she was imprisoned in Russia on drug charges for roughly 10 months.
Griner’s detainment began in February 2022, when Russian authorities found vape cartridges in her luggage at an airport outside of Moscow. During detainment, Griner testified that she had been prescribed medical cannabis by a doctor for offseason pain management. Griner is now using her experience to help others avoid risky travel situations with the creation of a company she co-founded, Zennjet.
The company describes itself as the “first-insured membership for travelers carrying prescribed medications.” Medications listed as covered on the company’s website include benzodiazepines, opioids and medical cannabis that are prescribed by a licensed medical professional. In addition, Zennjet offers country risk reports, translation assistance, legal advice and even repatriation services if detained or refused entry at the destination.
“I never want anybody to go through what I went through,” Griner said in an interview with USA Today. “I want people to be able to be aware, informed and to know where they’re going, where they’re traveling.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that medicines prescribed or available in the U.S. may be considered “unlicensed” or “controlled substances in other countries.” As a result, travelers may encounter situations where their medication is taken away, with the possibility of legal penalties such as jail time. The CDC advises Americans traveling internationally to check with their destination’s embassy to make sure their medication is permitted.