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As the American basketball player, an American basketball player in Indonesia, went down to his apartment lobby in recent months to collect a package with illegally imported cannabis gummies, he believed his medication for relieving his Crohn’s disease had arrived.

It had – however, so did 10 undercover police officers. A video on social media depicts the athlete, dressed in a dark top and shorts, shouting for help as multiple law enforcement agents attempt to detain him.

Facing Harsh Penalties

The 35-year-old from Dallas, Texas, could face potential the death penalty or a long spell behind bars. He was a key member of Prawira Bandung, who won the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) in 2023, and he accumulated more than 1,000 points over three seasons in the country. But now he remains in detention before trial and faces a lifetime ban from the league.

“Cannabis serves as my treatment,” he stated over the phone from a prison just outside Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. “I suffer from a chronic inflammation called Crohn’s that’s incurable. There’s no medicine besides cannabis that relieves my stomach from aching.”

During the off-season, the athlete lives in Thailand, where cannabis is subject to more liberal laws. He says he previously suffered discomfort of going without cannabis in earlier seasons in Indonesia but says that medical needs spurred him to import the intercepted supply of 132 gummies this year. “It was a foolish error,” he says.

Challenges in Law and Life

But that mistake should not warrant the death penalty or a long spell in prison, he contends. “There’s people telling me I’m about to spend the rest of my life in prison over some edibles,” he says. “This is unlike any previous experience.” In the first two months after his arrest, he was at “the lowest point in [my] life” and in a “really dark mental place.”

“I felt helpless and alone,” he recalls. “Waking up felt unbearable.” But through prayer and his faith, as well as access to a prison gym, he is gradually recovering even while the tall sportsman shares a cramped cell with a dozen men. “I recently celebrated my 35th birthday but I still feel young,” notes the former Utah State basketballer, with experience in Argentina, Japan, Turkey, Thailand and Tunisia. “I would love to continue my basketball career.”

Medical Use vs. Legal Perception

Shaw, who plays as a center or power forward, says cannabis helps ease his anxiety and depression, as well as insomnia and the discomfort of his condition. “It’s not for recreation or social events,” he emphasizes. “With my stomach condition, sometimes it’s hard for me to keep food down or use the restroom. It merely eases the pain a little bit.”

The nation enforces strict policies on drugs and carried out executions in 2016, via shooting, of an Indonesian and three foreigners found guilty of drug offenses. More than 500 people – including almost 100 foreigners – are on death row in the country, mostly for drug-related crimes.

Indonesian police have said that the athlete messaged his fellow players saying that he would share portions of the edibles among them. “What they consider drugs, I consider medicine,” says Shaw. “Cultural perspectives vary.”

Fundraising and Future Hopes

After Shaw’s arrest, police officials informed the media that the American could face life in prison or possibly execution upon conviction. “Our ongoing investigation aims to uncover and halt global drug networks involved preventing further spread,” a representative stated.

Shaw was swiftly paraded during a media event, appearing with his hands cuffed dressed in detention attire and face covering. He faced away from spectators as police chiefs exhibited the cannabis gummies, totaling 869 grams and are worth $400.

He said that to charge him with possession of almost a kilo of cannabis is unjust and “sick,” since most of the weight comes from the gummies themselves rather than the active ingredient. “I’ve been charged for almost a kilo,” he says. “My actual possession was far less.”

The player is seeking donations for his rising legal fees. He has not yet appeared in court although detained months prior, and he is still waiting for a first appearance date. “It’s being portrayed like I’m this big drug dealer,” he says. “What reason would I have to import the candy here for sale? They were for my own needs.”

Broader Context and Support

A representative from a group supporting the release of people jailed over cannabis said: “Jarred’s case is not an isolated incident. Around the world, individuals face harsh penalties for non-violent cannabis offenses which are not dangerous to public safety.” In the United States as well, she noted, many people remain incarcerated for cannabis offences even with legalization in almost half of states and a medical greenlight in most regions. “These punishments contradict global human rights norms,” she stated.

The potential efficacy of cannabis for Crohn’s is understudied but recent studies have indicated that cannabis can ease persistent pain without serious side effects. Amid this, leaders have highlighted the benefits of cannabis treatments.

There are parallels with this case and the situation of Brittney Griner, the decorated American basketball player who was imprisoned in another country for 10 months in 2022 when officials discovered cannabis products in her luggage. Griner was eventually released as part of a prisoner swap involving a Russian weapons trafficker.

“Jarred has always been an exceptionally kind and caring individual one might encounter,” his friend remarked on Shaw’s fundraising page. “He erred. But I don’t believe that this should ruin his entire future.”

American officials in Jakarta stated it is aware of the situation but declined additional details.

An advocacy assistant involved in the case commented: “Cannabis itself is not lethal, but ownership might be. It’s crucial to draw as much attention on this case in the hope that a favorable outcome will set a powerful precedent. I’m dedicated to ensuring he returns to his family.”

• Local authorities did not respond regarding inquiries on this matter.