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

It had – however, so did a team of ten plainclothes officers. Footage circulating online depicts the athlete, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, shouting for help as multiple law enforcement agents move to apprehend him.

Facing Harsh Penalties

The 35-year-old from Dallas, Texas, could face potential execution 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 over a thousand points over three seasons in the country. However, currently he remains in pre-trial detention and is banned for life from the IBL.

“I use cannabis as a medicine,” he explained during a call from his cell just outside Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. “I have an inflammatory condition called Crohn’s disease that’s incurable. There’s no medicine besides cannabis that stops my stomach from aching.”

When not playing, the athlete resides in Thailand, where the laws on cannabis are less restrictive. He mentions he previously suffered the pain of abstaining from cannabis in previous campaigns in Indonesia but explains how medical needs led him to import the intercepted supply of over a hundred edibles recently. “It was a foolish error,” he admits.

Challenges in Law and Life

But that mistake does not justify the death penalty or a long spell in prison, he contends. “I’ve been informed I could end up spending the rest of my life in prison over some edibles,” he states. “I’ve never been through any previous experience.” In the first two months following his detention, he reached “my most difficult period” and in a “deeply troubled state of mind.”

“I felt helpless and alone,” he recalls. “Waking up felt unbearable.” Yet, with spiritual practices, as well as access to a prison gym, he is gradually recovering despite the 6ft 11in athlete occupies a small cell with multiple inmates. “I just turned 35 but my energy remains high,” notes the ex-college player, who has played in Argentina, Japan, Turkey, Thailand and Tunisia. “I would love to continue playing professionally.”

Medical Use vs. Legal Perception

Shaw, who plays as a center or power forward, says cannabis helps ease his mental health struggles, in addition to sleeplessness and the discomfort of his condition. “I don’t use it to have fun and go party,” he emphasizes. “Due to my digestive issues, sometimes it’s hard to retain meals or go to the toilet. It merely eases the pain a little bit.”

Indonesia takes a hard line on drugs and carried out executions in 2016, via shooting, of several individuals found guilty of drug offenses. More than 500 people – including almost 100 foreigners – face execution in the nation, primarily due to drug-related crimes.

Law enforcement stated that Shaw sent text messages his fellow players saying that he planned to distribute some of the cannabis candies with them. “Their definition of narcotics, I consider medicine,” he remarks. “It’s just different cultures.”

Seeking Support and Resolution

After Shaw’s arrest, police officials told reporters that Shaw could face a life sentence or even the death penalty if found guilty. “Our ongoing investigation aims to uncover to uncover global drug networks behind this case and to stop its distribution,” an official said.

Shaw was swiftly paraded at a press conference, appearing with his hands cuffed dressed in detention attire and a black face mask. 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 to charge him with holding nearly a kilogram of cannabis is unjust and “disturbing,” since the bulk is made up by the candy material rather than the cannabis content. “I’ve been charged for a large quantity,” he says. “I didn’t have anything near that.”

Shaw is fundraising to cover mounting court costs. 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 as if I’m a major trafficker,” he asserts. “What reason would I have to import the candy here to sell? They were for my own needs.”

Wider Implications and Advocacy

An advocacy director from a group supporting individuals jailed over cannabis commented: “Jarred’s case is not an isolated incident. Around the world, individuals face extreme sentences for non-violent cannabis offenses that pose no threat to society.” Even in the US, she added, tens of thousands remain incarcerated for similar offenses even with legalization in numerous states and medical approval in all but two. “These punishments contradict global human rights norms,” she stated.

Possible benefits of cannabis for Crohn’s lacks extensive research but recent papers suggest that cannabis can ease persistent pain without serious side effects. This comes as, public figures have discussed potential advantages of cannabis-based medicines.

Similarities exist between Shaw’s case and the situation of another American athlete, the acclaimed player who was imprisoned in Russia for 10 months in 2022 when officials discovered cannabis products in her luggage. She was later freed through an exchange involving a Russian weapons trafficker.

“He is known as one of the most generous and selfless people you could meet,” his friend said on Shaw’s fundraising page. “He erred. However, it’s unjust that mistake should cost him his entire future.”

American officials in Jakarta stated it is aware of Shaw’s case but declined additional details.

An advocacy assistant involved in the case said: “Cannabis can’t kill you, but possessing it can. We must get significant focus on this case in the hope that a positive resolution will set a powerful precedent. I’m dedicated to ensuring Jarred gets home to his family.”

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