‘Cannabis is My Medication’: The US Basketball Player Facing Death Penalty Over $Four Hundred Worth of Gummies.

When Jarred Shaw, an American basketball player in Indonesia, went down to his apartment lobby earlier this year to pick up a package with smuggled cannabis gummies, he believed his medication for relieving his chronic inflammatory condition had arrived.

It had – but so too had 10 undercover police officers. A video on social media depicts Shaw, dressed in a black T-shirt and shorts, crying out in distress as multiple law enforcement agents attempt to detain him.

Facing Harsh Penalties

The 35-year-old from Dallas, Texas, is confronting the possibility of execution or extended imprisonment. Previously, he served as an integral player of his Indonesian team, who won the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) in 2023, and he accumulated more than 1,000 points across three years in the nation. But now he is languishing in pre-trial detention and faces a lifetime ban from the league.

“Cannabis serves as my treatment,” he stated during a call from a prison near Jakarta, the capital. “I suffer from a chronic inflammation called Crohn’s that’s incurable. There’s no medicine apart from cannabis that stops my stomach from aching.”

During the off-season, Shaw lives in a neighboring country, where cannabis is subject to more liberal laws. He mentions he previously suffered discomfort of going without cannabis in previous campaigns in Indonesia but explains how health reasons spurred him to import the intercepted supply of over a hundred edibles recently. “It was a foolish error,” he admits.

Legal and Personal Struggles

But that mistake should not warrant execution or lengthy incarceration, he contends. “I’ve been informed I could end up spending my entire future behind bars for cannabis candies,” he states. “This is unlike any previous experience.” Initially, for weeks following his detention, he reached “my most difficult period” and in a “deeply troubled state of mind.”

“I felt helpless and alone,” he shares. “Waking up felt unbearable.” But through prayer and his faith, along with time in a detention center gym, he is starting to feel himself again even while the tall sportsman occupies a small cell with multiple inmates. “I just turned 35 but I still feel young,” says the ex-college player, who has played in multiple countries. “I hope to resume playing professionally.”

Treatment Needs Versus Drug Laws

Shaw, a center or power forward, explains cannabis alleviates his mental health struggles, as well as insomnia and the discomfort of his condition. “I don’t use it to have fun and go party,” he emphasizes. “Due to my digestive issues, it can be challenging to retain meals or go to the toilet. It just soothes the pain a little bit.”

Indonesia takes a hard line on drugs and conducted executions in 2016, by firing squad, of an Indonesian and three foreigners convicted of drug-related crimes. More than 500 people – with nearly a hundred foreigners – are on death row in the country, mostly for narcotics violations.

Indonesian police stated that the athlete messaged to his teammates indicating he would share portions of the edibles among them. “Their definition of narcotics, I view as treatment,” says Shaw. “Cultural perspectives vary.”

Seeking Support and Resolution

Following his detention, authorities told reporters that the American might receive a life sentence or even the death penalty upon conviction. “We are still running uncover and halt global drug networks behind this case and to stop its distribution,” a representative stated.

Shaw was swiftly paraded at a press conference, appearing with his hands cuffed dressed in detention attire and a black face mask. He faced away from spectators as officials exhibited the cannabis gummies, which weigh 869 grams in total and are worth $400.

He said that to charge him with possession of almost a kilo of cannabis is unfair and “sick,” given that the bulk is made up by the gummies themselves rather than the active ingredient. “I’m accused of almost a kilo,” he notes. “My actual possession was far less.”

Shaw is fundraising to cover his rising legal fees. He has not yet appeared in court despite being arrested five months ago, and he awaits his initial court date. “It’s being portrayed as if I’m a major trafficker,” he asserts. “Why would I bring these items for sale? It was for personal use.”

Broader Context and Support

An advocacy director from a group campaigning for individuals jailed over cannabis commented: “This situation is not unique. Globally, people are serving harsh penalties for low-level cannabis crimes which are not dangerous to public safety.” In the United States as well, she noted, many people remain incarcerated for similar offenses even with legalization in numerous states and medical approval in most regions. “These punishments run counter to global human rights norms,” she stated.

Possible benefits of cannabis for Crohn’s is understudied but recent papers have indicated that cannabis may relieve persistent pain with minimal risks. This comes as, leaders have discussed potential advantages of cannabis-based medicines.

Similarities exist with this case and that of Brittney Griner, the acclaimed player who was imprisoned in another country for nearly a year 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 selfless people you could meet,” a close associate remarked on Shaw’s fundraising page. “He erred. But I don’t believe that this should ruin his entire future.”

American officials in the capital stated it is aware of the situation but would not comment further.

An advocacy assistant involved in the case said: “Cannabis can’t kill you, but ownership might be. We must get significant focus on this case so that a favorable outcome will set a powerful precedent. I am committed to making sure he returns to his family.”

• The Indonesian National Police offered no reply to a request for comment on this matter.