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As the American basketball player, an American basketball player in Indonesia, descended to his apartment lobby earlier this year to collect a delivery containing illegally imported cannabis gummies, he thought the medicine for relieving his Crohn’s disease had been delivered.

Indeed it did – however, so did a team of ten plainclothes officers. Footage circulating online shows the athlete, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, crying out in distress as multiple law enforcement agents move to apprehend him.

Facing Harsh Penalties

The 35-year-old from Dallas, Texas, is confronting potential the death penalty or extended imprisonment. He was a key member of his Indonesian team, which clinched the national basketball league in 2023, and he scored more than 1,000 points over three seasons in the nation. 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 that’s incurable. There’s no medicine besides cannabis that stops my abdominal pain.”

When not playing, the athlete resides in Thailand, where cannabis is subject to less restrictive. He mentions he had endured the pain of abstaining from cannabis in previous campaigns in Indonesia but says that health reasons led him to bring in the seized batch of over a hundred edibles recently. “It was a foolish error,” he says.

Challenges in Law and Life

But that mistake should not warrant execution or lengthy incarceration, he contends. “There’s people telling me I could end up spending the rest of my life behind bars for cannabis candies,” he states. “I’ve never been through anything like this.” In the first two months following his detention, he was at “the lowest point in [my] life” and in a “deeply troubled state of mind.”

“I felt helpless and alone,” he recalls. “Waking up felt unbearable.” Yet, with spiritual practices, along with time in a prison gym, he is gradually recovering even while the tall sportsman occupies a small cell with a dozen men. “I recently celebrated my 35th birthday but I still feel young,” notes the ex-college player, who has played in multiple countries. “I hope to resume playing professionally.”

Medical Use vs. Legal Perception

Shaw, a center or power forward, explains cannabis helps ease his anxiety and depression, as well as insomnia and the discomfort of his condition. “I don’t use it to have fun or social events,” he clarifies. “Due to my digestive issues, sometimes it’s hard for me to keep food down or go to the toilet. It just soothes some of the symptoms.”

The nation enforces strict policies on drugs and carried out executions in 2016, by firing squad, of an Indonesian and three foreigners found guilty of drug-related crimes. More than 500 people – including almost 100 foreigners – are on death row in the nation, primarily due to narcotics violations.

Law enforcement stated that the athlete messaged to his teammates saying that he would share portions of the edibles with them. “What they consider drugs, I view as treatment,” says Shaw. “Cultural perspectives vary.”

Fundraising and Future Hopes

After Shaw’s arrest, authorities told reporters that Shaw could face a life sentence or possibly execution if found guilty. “We are still running uncover and halt global drug networks behind this case preventing further spread,” a representative said.

Shaw was swiftly paraded during a media event, shown in handcuffs wearing an orange prison-issue T-shirt and a black face mask. He stood with his back to the audience as police chiefs exhibited the seized candies, which weigh 869 grams in total and are worth $400.

He said that to charge him with holding nearly a kilogram of cannabis is unfair and “sick,” given that most of the weight comes from the gummies themselves rather than the active ingredient. “I’ve been charged for a large quantity,” he notes. “I didn’t have anything near that.”

The player is seeking donations for 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. “What reason would I have to import the candy here for sale? It was for personal use.”

Broader Context and Support

A representative from an organization supporting individuals imprisoned for cannabis-related offences said: “Jarred’s case is not unique. Around the world, individuals face harsh penalties for non-violent cannabis offenses which are not dangerous to society.” Even in the US, she noted, many people remain incarcerated for similar offenses despite recreational legalization in almost half of states and medical approval in most regions. “These punishments contradict global human rights norms,” she stated.

Possible benefits of cannabis on Crohn’s disease lacks extensive research but recent studies have indicated that cannabis may relieve chronic lower back pain with minimal risks. This comes as, leaders have highlighted the benefits of cannabis-based medicines.

There are parallels between Shaw’s case and that of Brittney Griner, the decorated American basketball player who was imprisoned in Russia for nearly a year in 2022 after authorities found cannabis products in her bags. Griner was eventually released as part of a prisoner swap with a foreign national.

“Jarred has always been one of the most generous and selfless people you could meet,” his friend said in a supportive statement. “Jarred made a mistake. But I don’t believe that this should ruin his life prospects.”

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

A support worker involved in the case said: “Cannabis itself is not lethal, but possessing it can. We must get as much attention to this situation so that a favorable outcome will set a powerful precedent. I’m dedicated to ensuring Jarred gets home to his mother.”

• Local authorities offered no reply regarding inquiries for this story.