Foto: Getty Images Europe
WNBA star Brittney Griner has launched a new company aimed at helping travelers safely navigate international laws around prescription medications following her 2022 detainment in Russia.
According to theGrio, Griner, 35, co-founded Zennjet, a travel membership service that provides insurance and legal assistance for people traveling with prescription drugs, including medical cannabis prescribed by a licensed physician.
“I never want anybody to go through what I went through,” Griner said in a statement. “I’m aware that I’m very blessed and very lucky to have an agency team, my wife and everybody behind me.”
Griner was arrested in Russia in February 2022 after border authorities discovered vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. Although she had been prescribed medical cannabis to manage off-season pain, the substance is illegal in Russia. Griner was convicted of drug possession, sentenced to prison, and served about 10 months before being released in a high-profile prisoner exchange.
The basketball star previously said it was never her intention to bring a banned substance into the country.
Recalling the moments surrounding her arrest, Griner said she was questioned in Russian and asked to sign documents she could not understand before being allowed to contact her agent or her wife. Through Zennjet, Griner hopes to prevent others from facing similar situations. The service allows travelers to register upcoming trips and receive real-time updates on destination-specific medication laws, along with translation support, legal guidance, and repatriation assistance if a traveler is detained or denied entry.
“I want people to be able to be aware, informed, and to know where they’re going, where they’re traveling,” Griner said.
According to the company, covered medications include benzodiazepines, opioids, and medical cannabis prescribed by a licensed medical professional.
Since her release, Griner, a center for the Atlanta Dream, has changed how she approaches international travel and encourages others to research local laws carefully, even when visiting familiar destinations.
“Education is key,” she said. “Taking that bit of time can save you a lot of heartache, a lot of money, a lot of time.”
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