As a white Christian male - I don't think she should have been in jail for pot to begin with. Kicking her out of the country would have been sufficient. She was used to make an example of how liberal the United States has become. Putin has said that this is a war against the antichrist and that this a Holy War.
Whether you believe this or not is not important - it's what he believes is what is important. Does he really mean it or is it just propaganda? Who knows? Also I don't smoke weed and don't advise anyone to do so but there are many things out there that are a lot worse.