Student from New York arrested in Russia due to medical marijuana

An 19-year-old student from New York spent at least a week in a Russian prison, where she was charged with drug possession after she was arrested with medical marijuana while visiting her mother in St. Petersburg.

Фото: Depositphotos

Audrey Lorber from Staten Island (NY) was arrested when she tried to fly out of Pulkovo Airport, and Russian border guards allegedly found about 19 grams of marijuana in her, according to a statement from the Moscow District Court of St. Petersburg.

According to investigators, Lorber had a prescription for a drug that she brought with her from the United States, but they felt that this recipe was not valid in Russia.

The girl was charged with possession of drugs, after which she awaited court hearings in the detention center of St. Petersburg. Investigators said Lorber pleaded guilty. It is not yet known whether she has a lawyer.

On the subject: Personal experience: how does medical cannabis work on your body?

The court statement was made on 2 of September, but it is not clear when Lorber was arrested. The girl’s Instagram shows that she has traveled to Russia with her mother Rochelle since at least mid-July, including a visit to Moscow. Her last post, dated 22 of July, shows that she and her mother are laughing in the sun by the St. Petersburg Neva. According to her Facebook profile, Lorber is currently studying at Pace University and also works in a restaurant.

Joey Guli, her boss in a restaurant Waterside on Staten Island, told The New York Post that he talked with Lorber's mother about two weeks ago and that she struggled to free her daughter. Guli called Audrey a "star employee."

“She has a career ahead, and she wants to work in the film industry, — he told The New York Post. “All my clients love her.”.

On the subject: Impaired brain function: why is it dangerous to allow marijuana to people younger than 25

The US Department of State told ABC News that it “is aware of reports of a US citizen arrested in Russia,” and is prepared to provide appropriate consular services. “Due to privacy concerns, we have no further comments at this time.” — The department said in a statement.

Russia has strict drug laws that the police aggressively implement and sentence to long prison sentences. The crime of which Lorber is charged (article 228 of the Criminal Code of Russia), is called a “people's article,” because it is often used to imprison people.

The charge is also notorious for being used in fabricated drug cases.

Previously ForumDaily wrote about a woman with dual (US-Israeli) citizenship, which languishes for four months in Russian prisons. 9 grams of cannabis, which was taken for drug smuggling to Russia, is to blame.

ABC News talked about the two-year prison adventures of another American in the Russian system on the basis that, according to him, drug charges were fabricated.

And during the World Cup last year, Russian authorities reportedly allowed American and other foreign tourists to import medical marijuana into the Russian Federation, provided that they could present a prescription. Marijuana is illegal in Russia, including for medical purposes, and its possession is prosecuted.

Read also on ForumDaily:

'It's a dangerous drug': US authorities issue official warning about the dangers of marijuana

Personal experience: how does medical cannabis work on your body?

How to make yourself and your life more efficient: 10 secrets from residents of Silicon Valley

No laughing matter: how modern medical marijuana kills

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