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‘Cannabis is My Medication’: American Basketball Player Confronting Death Penalty Over $400 Worth of Gummies.
As Jarred Shaw, a US athlete playing in Indonesia, descended to his apartment lobby in recent months to pick up a package containing smuggled cannabis gummies, he thought his medication for easing his chronic inflammatory condition had arrived.
Indeed it did – but so too had a team of ten plainclothes officers. A video on social media depicts the athlete, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, shouting for help as multiple law enforcement agents move to apprehend him.
Confronting Severe Consequences
The Texan native, aged 35, is confronting potential the death penalty or extended imprisonment. He was a key member of his Indonesian team, who won the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) in 2023, and he accumulated over a thousand points over three seasons in the country. But now he is languishing in detention before trial and faces a lifetime ban from the league.
“I use cannabis as a medicine,” he stated during a call from his cell 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 stomach from aching.”
When not playing, Shaw lives in a neighboring country, where cannabis is subject to less restrictive. He says he previously suffered the pain of abstaining from cannabis in earlier seasons in Indonesia but explains how health reasons spurred him to bring in the intercepted supply of over a hundred edibles recently. “I made a stupid mistake,” he admits.
Legal and Personal Struggles
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 behind bars for cannabis candies,” he states. “This is unlike any previous experience.” Initially, for weeks following his detention, he was at “my most difficult period” and in a “really dark mental place.”
“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 despite the 6ft 11in athlete occupies a small cell with a dozen men. “I just turned 35 but my energy remains high,” notes the ex-college player, 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 sleeplessness and the discomfort of his condition. “I don’t use it to have fun or social events,” he clarifies. “Due to my digestive issues, it can be challenging to retain meals or use the restroom. It just soothes some of the symptoms.”
Indonesia takes a hard line on drugs and carried out executions in 2016, via shooting, of an Indonesian and three foreigners found guilty of drug-related crimes. Over five hundred individuals – including almost 100 foreigners – face execution in the nation, primarily due to narcotics violations.
Law enforcement have said that the athlete messaged his fellow players indicating he would share some of the cannabis candies with them. “What they consider drugs, I view as treatment,” he remarks. “It’s just different cultures.”
Seeking Support and Resolution
After Shaw’s arrest, police officials told reporters that Shaw could face life in prison or possibly execution upon conviction. “We are still running uncover and halt global drug networks behind this case and to stop its distribution,” an official stated.
The athlete was presented at a press conference, shown in handcuffs wearing an orange prison-issue T-shirt and a black face mask. He faced away from spectators as officials displayed the cannabis gummies, which weigh 869 grams in total and valued at four hundred dollars.
He said that accusing him of holding nearly a kilogram of cannabis is unjust and “disturbing,” given that most of the weight comes from the gummies themselves instead of the cannabis content. “I’ve been charged for a large quantity,” he notes. “My actual possession was far less.”
Shaw is fundraising to cover his rising legal fees. His trial has not begun although detained months prior, and he awaits his initial court date. “It’s being portrayed like I’m this big drug dealer,” he asserts. “Why would I bring these items for sale? They were for my own needs.”
Broader Context and Support
A representative from an organization supporting individuals imprisoned for cannabis-related offences commented: “Jarred’s case is not an isolated incident. Globally, individuals face harsh penalties for low-level cannabis crimes which are not dangerous to public safety.” In the United States as well, she noted, tens of thousands remain incarcerated for cannabis offences despite recreational legalization in almost half of states and medical approval in most regions. “Such penalties contradict international human rights standards,” she stated.
The potential efficacy of cannabis for Crohn’s lacks extensive research but recent studies suggest that cannabis may relieve chronic lower back pain with minimal risks. Amid this, leaders have highlighted the benefits of cannabis-based medicines.
Similarities exist between Shaw’s case and that of another American athlete, the acclaimed player detained in another country for nearly a year in 2022 when officials discovered cannabis products in her bags. Griner was eventually released as part of a prisoner swap with a foreign national.
“He is known as an exceptionally kind and caring individual you could meet,” a close associate said on Shaw’s fundraising page. “Jarred made a mistake. But I don’t believe that this should ruin his entire future.”
American officials in Jakarta says they know about the situation but declined additional details.
A support worker involved in the case said: “Cannabis can’t kill you, but ownership might be. It’s crucial to draw significant focus to this situation in the hope that a favorable outcome can influence future cases. I am committed to ensuring Jarred gets home to his family.”
- Local authorities did not respond regarding inquiries for this story.
Margaret Houston
A dedicated writer and theologian passionate about sharing faith-based insights and fostering community connections.
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