Protesters 'Smoke Out' Russian Embassy To Demand Brittney Griner's Release

Cannabis activists smoked weed outside the Russian Embassy in Washington on Thursday and demanded freedom for WNBA star Brittney Griner after a Russian appeals court upheld Griners nine-year sentence for cannabis possession.

DC Marijuana Justice activists displayed a 51-foot inflatable joint with the messages Free Griner and the Russians from Putin and Free 420 Prisoners during a smoke out protest that began at 4:20 p.m., according to People .

We feel compelled to protest the Russian Federation and President Putin, whos clearly using an American citizen as a pawn in his war against Ukraine , Adam Eidinger, co-founder of DC Marijuana Justice, told The Washington Post.

Its time for the public to rise up and defend Brittney Griner, Eidinger continued. If were going to fight for prisoners to be released in the United States, we need to fight for them to be released everywhere, internationally.

Griner, a Phoenix Mercury player, has been detained in Russia since February, when police discovered cannabis oil in her luggage. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.

President Joe Biden promised this week that his administration would continue efforts to free Griner and other U.S. citizens in Russian custody.

Right now: Cannabis activists inflate giant joint in front of Russian Embassy.

Im told it says Free Griner and Russians from Putin on the joint. pic.twitter.com/aljGlp73RQ

Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 27, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Ford Fischer","author_url":"https://twitter.com/FordFischer","cache_age":86400,"description":"Right now: Cannabis activists inflate giant joint in front of Russian Embassy.Im told it says Free Griner and Russians from Putin on the joint. pic.twitter.com/aljGlp73RQ Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 27, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1080,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1585725405037748227/pu/img/t-qXw1kSFsGdZzvs.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1920,"title":"Ford Fischer on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1585725631119052800","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"635b7977e4b023ac31c3c8c7","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/brittney-griner-protest-cannabis-russian-embassy_n_635b7977e4b023ac31c3c8c7","entryTagsList":"russia,washington-dc,protest,cannabis,brittney-griner,@auto-republish-1667499084877","sectionSlug":"us-news","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"world-news,sports,politics","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.us-news","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/4f9ef7ee-49cb-40d3-bffb-e2ee01e6e707/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"635b7977e4b023ac31c3c8c7","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Russia","slug":"russia","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/russia","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/russia","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/russia"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Russia","slug":"russia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/russia"},{"name":"washington dc","slug":"washington-dc","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/washington-dc","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/washington-dc","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/washington-dc"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"Washington, D.C.","slug":"washington-dc","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/washington-dc"},{"name":"protest","slug":"protest","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/protest","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/protest","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/protest"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/protest"},{"name":"cannabis","slug":"cannabis","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/cannabis","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/cannabis","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/cannabis"},"relegenceId":3619483,"department":{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"section":{"title":"Science","slug":"science"},"topic":{"title":"Marijuana","slug":"marijuana","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/impact/topic/marijuana"},{"name":"Brittney Griner","slug":"brittney-griner","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/brittney-griner","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/brittney-griner","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/brittney-griner"},"section":{"title":"Sports","slug":"sports"},"topic":{"title":"Brittney Griner","slug":"brittney-griner","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/topic/brittney-griner"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">

Right now: Cannabis activists inflate giant joint in front of Russian Embassy.

Im told it says Free Griner and Russians from Putin on the joint. pic.twitter.com/aljGlp73RQ
Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 27, 2022

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Activist @aeidinger put down the piece of a cannabis plant he brought to Russian Embassy.

Putin, he says, turned Griner into \"a drug kingpin, over what? Not this.\"

\"This is what this is about\" he said, holding up a vape pen like the one #BrittneyGriner is in Russian prison for. pic.twitter.com/5M8etPWY3v

Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 28, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Ford Fischer","author_url":"https://twitter.com/FordFischer","cache_age":86400,"description":"Activist @aeidinger put down the piece of a cannabis plant he brought to Russian Embassy.Putin, he says, turned Griner into \"a drug kingpin, over what? Not this.\"\"This is what this is about\" he said, holding up a vape pen like the one #BrittneyGriner is in Russian prison for. pic.twitter.com/5M8etPWY3v Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 28, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_hide_thread":{"label":"Hide previous Tweet in conversation thread","value":true},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1585798845237235712/pu/img/FvSyi9r3A4avi-K0.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Ford Fischer on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1585800447612178432","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"635b7977e4b023ac31c3c8c7","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/brittney-griner-protest-cannabis-russian-embassy_n_635b7977e4b023ac31c3c8c7","entryTagsList":"russia,washington-dc,protest,cannabis,brittney-griner,@auto-republish-1667499084877","sectionSlug":"us-news","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"world-news,sports,politics","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.us-news","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/4f9ef7ee-49cb-40d3-bffb-e2ee01e6e707/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"635b7977e4b023ac31c3c8c7","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Russia","slug":"russia","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/russia","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/russia","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/russia"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Russia","slug":"russia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/russia"},{"name":"washington dc","slug":"washington-dc","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/washington-dc","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/washington-dc","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/washington-dc"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"Washington, D.C.","slug":"washington-dc","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/washington-dc"},{"name":"protest","slug":"protest","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/protest","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/protest","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/protest"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/protest"},{"name":"cannabis","slug":"cannabis","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/cannabis","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/cannabis","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/cannabis"},"relegenceId":3619483,"department":{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"section":{"title":"Science","slug":"science"},"topic":{"title":"Marijuana","slug":"marijuana","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/impact/topic/marijuana"},{"name":"Brittney Griner","slug":"brittney-griner","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/brittney-griner","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/brittney-griner","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/brittney-griner"},"section":{"title":"Sports","slug":"sports"},"topic":{"title":"Brittney Griner","slug":"brittney-griner","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/topic/brittney-griner"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">

Activist @aeidinger put down the piece of a cannabis plant he brought to Russian Embassy.

Putin, he says, turned Griner into "a drug kingpin, over what? Not this."

"This is what this is about" he said, holding up a vape pen like the one #BrittneyGriner is in Russian prison for. pic.twitter.com/5M8etPWY3v
Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 28, 2022