The Alaska news anchor whose impromptu on-air outburst about the legalization of marijuana has become a defining moment in her career is now in danger of facing jail time.
Former KTVA news anchor Charlo Greene, whose legal name is Charlene Egbe, nearly broke the Internet when a clip of her cursing while live on air during what ended up being her final segment for the station in September of 2014. She closed out her segment that day by revealing that she was a known advocate for the legalization of marijuana and was actually the owner of the company the Alaska Cannibus Club — which was the topic of her news report for that segment.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest in hair, beauty, style and celebrity news.
Since ending her tenure at the station with a hearty, “F**k it, I quit,” before walking off camera never to return, the 26-year-old has become a full-time advocate for marijuana. She has spent most of her working hours taking steps to help people in Alaska access marijuana in light of the state becoming the third in the country to legalize recreational marijuana back in November of 2014. However, despite the state-wide approval, officials have not been in favor of Greene’s business and instead launched several covert raids at her club. As a result, The Guardian reports that she was charged with a total of eight criminal offenses and could face up to 24 years in prison if convicted.
“It’s almost dizzying when you try to make sense of it,” Greene told The Guardian in an exclusive interview while speaking on her upcoming trial. “It could literally cost me the rest of my adult life.” She says the charges against her are part of a larger issue with the state of Alaska’s history of targeting African-Americans with over-criminalization tactics for minor offenses.
Although court records prove that Greene wasn’t directly involved in any of the secret transactions in question, prosecutors moved forward with the charges against her after noting that the club was registered under her name. While experts say it’s not likely that she’ll face decades behind bars, Greene says she’s still concerned about the impact that possible imprisonment will have on her life.
