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When Jarred Shaw, a US athlete playing in Indonesia, went down to his apartment lobby earlier this year to collect a delivery containing illegally imported cannabis gummies, he believed the medicine for easing his chronic inflammatory condition had been delivered.

Indeed it did – however, so did a team of ten plainclothes officers. A video on social media depicts the athlete, dressed in a black T-shirt and shorts, crying out in distress as the swarm of officers attempt to detain him.

Facing Harsh Penalties

The Texan native, aged 35, is confronting the possibility of execution or a long spell behind bars. 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 country. However, currently he is languishing in detention before trial and faces a lifetime ban from the IBL.

“I use cannabis as a medicine,” he stated over the phone from a prison just outside Jakarta, the capital. “I suffer from an inflammatory condition called Crohn’s disease that’s untreatable. There’s no medicine apart from cannabis that stops my stomach from aching.”

When not playing, Shaw resides in a neighboring country, where cannabis is subject to less restrictive. He says he had endured the pain of abstaining from cannabis in previous campaigns in Indonesia but explains how health reasons spurred him to bring in the seized batch of 132 gummies recently. “It was a foolish error,” he admits.

Challenges in Law and Life

But that mistake should not warrant execution or a long spell in prison, he argues. “I’ve been informed I’m about to spend my entire future in prison over some edibles,” he says. “This is unlike any previous experience.” In the first two months following his detention, he was at “the lowest point in [my] life” and in a “really dark mental place.”

“I felt helpless and alone,” he shares. “I didn’t want to wake up again.” But through spiritual practices, along with time in a prison gym, he is gradually recovering despite the tall sportsman occupies a small cell with multiple inmates. “I just turned 35 but I still feel young,” says the former Utah State basketballer, with experience in multiple countries. “I hope to resume my basketball career.”

Treatment Needs Versus Drug Laws

Shaw, who plays as a center or power forward, explains cannabis alleviates his mental health struggles, in addition to insomnia and the discomfort of his condition. “I don’t use it to have fun and go party,” he clarifies. “Due to my digestive issues, sometimes it’s hard for me to keep food down or use the restroom. It merely eases the pain a little bit.”

Indonesia takes a hard line regarding narcotics and conducted executions in 2016, via shooting, of several individuals convicted of drug offenses. More than 500 people – including almost 100 foreigners – are on death row in the country, mostly for drug-related crimes.

Law enforcement have said that Shaw sent text messages his fellow players indicating he would share some of the cannabis candies with them. “What they consider drugs, I consider medicine,” says Shaw. “It’s just different cultures.”

Seeking Support and Resolution

Following his detention, police officials informed the media that the American could face a life sentence or possibly execution upon conviction. “Our ongoing investigation aims to uncover to uncover global drug networks behind this case preventing further spread,” a representative said.

Shaw was swiftly paraded during a media event, shown in handcuffs dressed in detention attire and a black face mask. He stood with his back to the audience as officials displayed the cannabis gummies, which weigh 869 grams in total and valued at four hundred dollars.

He argued that to charge him with possession of almost a kilo of cannabis is unjust and “sick,” given that the bulk is made up by the candy material rather than the cannabis content. “I’ve been charged for almost a kilo,” he says. “My actual possession was far less.”

The player is seeking donations to cover his rising legal fees. He has not yet appeared in court despite being arrested five months ago, and he is still waiting his initial court date. “It’s being portrayed like I’m this big drug dealer,” he says. “Why would I bring these items to sell? It was for personal use.”

Broader Context and Support

A representative from a group campaigning for the release of people imprisoned for cannabis-related offences said: “This situation is not unique. Around the world, individuals face harsh penalties for low-level cannabis crimes that pose no threat to public safety.” Even in the US, she added, many people are still imprisoned for similar offenses even with legalization in almost half of states and a medical greenlight in all but two. “Such penalties run counter to international human rights standards,” she emphasized.

The potential efficacy of cannabis on Crohn’s disease is understudied but recent studies suggest that cannabis can ease chronic lower back pain with minimal risks. This comes as, public figures have highlighted potential advantages of cannabis-based medicines.

Similarities exist between Shaw’s case and that of another American athlete, the decorated American basketball player who was imprisoned in another country for nearly a year in 2022 when officials discovered cannabis products in her luggage. She was later freed through an exchange with a foreign national.

“He is known as one of the most generous and caring individual you could meet,” a close associate said on Shaw’s fundraising page. “Jarred made a mistake. However, it’s unjust that mistake should cost him his entire future.”

American officials in Jakarta says they know about the situation but declined additional details.

A support worker involved in the case commented: “Cannabis can’t kill you, but ownership might be. It’s crucial to draw as much attention to this situation so that a positive resolution will set a powerful precedent. I am committed to making sure Jarred gets home to his family.”

• The Indonesian National Police did not respond regarding inquiries on this matter.