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As Jarred Shaw, an American basketball player in Indonesia, descended to the lobby of his residence earlier this year to collect a delivery with 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. Footage circulating online shows the athlete, dressed in a dark top 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 extended imprisonment. He was a key member of his Indonesian team, which clinched the national basketball league in 2023, and he accumulated more than 1,000 points across three years in the nation. However, currently he is languishing in detention before trial and is banned for life from the league.

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

When not playing, the athlete lives in a neighboring country, where cannabis is subject to less restrictive. He mentions he previously suffered discomfort of abstaining from cannabis in earlier seasons in Indonesia but says that health reasons spurred him to bring in the intercepted supply of over a hundred edibles recently. “It was a foolish error,” he admits.

Legal and Personal Struggles

However, this error does not justify the death penalty or lengthy incarceration, he contends. “I’ve been informed I’m about to spend my entire future in prison over some edibles,” he states. “This is unlike any previous experience.” Initially, for weeks following his detention, he reached “the lowest point in [my] life” and in a “deeply troubled state of mind.”

“I felt helpless and alone,” he recalls. “I didn’t want to wake up again.” But through spiritual practices, as well as access to a detention center gym, he is gradually recovering even while the tall sportsman occupies a small cell with multiple inmates. “I recently celebrated my 35th birthday but my energy remains high,” notes the ex-college player, with experience in Argentina, Japan, Turkey, Thailand and Tunisia. “I hope to resume playing professionally.”

Medical Use vs. Legal Perception

The player, who plays as a center or power forward, says cannabis helps ease his anxiety and depression, as well as sleeplessness and the discomfort of his condition. “It’s not for recreation and go party,” he clarifies. “Due to my digestive issues, it can be challenging for me to keep food down or go to the toilet. It merely eases some of the symptoms.”

Indonesia takes a hard line on drugs and carried out executions in 2016, by firing squad, of several individuals convicted of drug offenses. More than 500 people – including almost 100 foreigners – face execution in the nation, mostly for narcotics violations.

Law enforcement have said that the athlete messaged his fellow players saying that he planned to distribute some of the cannabis candies among them. “What they consider drugs, I view as treatment,” says Shaw. “It’s just different cultures.”

Fundraising and Future Hopes

Following his detention, police officials informed the media that the American might receive life in prison or even the death penalty upon conviction. “We are still running the investigation and halt the international drugs network behind this case preventing further spread,” an official stated.

The athlete was presented during a media event, appearing with his hands cuffed wearing an orange prison-issue T-shirt and face covering. He stood with his back to the audience as officials exhibited the cannabis gummies, which weigh 869 grams in total and are worth $400.

He argued that accusing him of possession of almost a kilo of cannabis is unfair and “disturbing,” since most of the weight is made up by the gummies themselves rather than the cannabis content. “I’ve been charged for a large quantity,” he notes. “I didn’t have anything near that.”

Shaw is fundraising for 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 like I’m this big drug dealer,” he says. “Why would I bring these items to sell? It was for personal use.”

Wider Implications and Advocacy

A representative from an organization campaigning for individuals jailed over cannabis said: “Jarred’s case is not unique. Globally, people are serving harsh penalties for non-violent cannabis offenses which are not dangerous to public safety.” In the United States as well, she added, many people remain incarcerated for similar offenses despite recreational legalization in almost half of states and a medical greenlight in most regions. “These punishments contradict global human rights norms,” she emphasized.

Possible benefits of cannabis on Crohn’s disease is understudied but recent papers suggest that cannabis may relieve persistent pain without serious side effects. Amid this, leaders have highlighted potential advantages of cannabis treatments.

Similarities exist with this case and the situation of another American athlete, the acclaimed player detained in another country for nearly a year in 2022 after authorities found cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage. She was later freed through an exchange with a foreign national.

“Jarred has always been an exceptionally kind and caring individual you could meet,” a close associate said in a supportive statement. “Jarred made a mistake. However, it’s unjust that mistake should cost him his life prospects.”

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

A support worker handling Shaw’s case said: “Cannabis can’t kill you, but ownership might be. We must get as much attention to this situation in the hope that a positive resolution can influence future cases. I am committed to ensuring he returns to his mother.”

• The Indonesian National Police offered no reply regarding inquiries on this matter.