U.S. Designates Pennsylvania Teacher Marc Fogel as Wrongfully Detained in Russia Over Medical Marijuana

Dec 27, 2024, 07:04 PM

Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania schoolteacher, has been formally designated as 'wrongfully detained' by the U.S. government, according to the State Department. Fogel was arrested in Russia in August 2021 on drug charges related to the possession of medical marijuana, which he used to treat chronic back pain. He is currently serving a 14-year sentence in a Russian high-security penal colony. The designation of wrongful detention means that the U.S. government will now work collaboratively across various agencies to develop a strategy for securing his release. This move comes after years of advocacy from Fogel's family and lawmakers, who have been pushing for his release and for the wrongful detention status to be applied to his case.