‘I Use Cannabis as Medicine’: American Basketball Player Confronting Death Penalty For $Four Hundred of Cannabis Candies.

When the American basketball player, an American basketball player in Indonesia, descended to his apartment lobby in recent months to collect a delivery with illegally imported cannabis gummies, he thought his medication for relieving his chronic inflammatory condition had arrived.

Indeed it did – but so too had a team of ten plainclothes officers. A video on social media shows Shaw, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, shouting for help as the swarm of officers attempt to detain him.

Confronting Severe Consequences

The Texan native, aged 35, could face the possibility of the death penalty 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 nation. However, currently he remains in pre-trial detention and faces a lifetime ban from the IBL.

“Cannabis serves as my treatment,” he explained over the phone from his cell near Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. “I have a chronic inflammation called Crohn’s that’s incurable. There’s no medicine apart from cannabis that stops my stomach from aching.”

During the off-season, the athlete resides in a neighboring country, where the laws on cannabis are more liberal laws. He says he had endured the pain of abstaining from cannabis in previous campaigns in Indonesia but says that medical needs spurred him to import the intercepted supply of over a hundred edibles this year. “I made a stupid mistake,” he admits.

Challenges in Law and Life

But that mistake should not warrant execution or a long spell in prison, he contends. “I’ve been informed I could end up spending the rest of my life in prison for cannabis candies,” he states. “This is unlike anything like this.” In the first two months 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 shares. “I didn’t want to wake up again.” But through spiritual practices, as well as access to a prison 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,” says the ex-college player, who has played in multiple countries. “I would love to continue my basketball career.”

Medical Use vs. Legal Perception

Shaw, who plays as a center or power forward, says cannabis helps ease his anxiety and depression, as well as sleeplessness and the pain from Crohn’s. “It’s not for recreation and go party,” he emphasizes. “With my stomach condition, sometimes it’s hard for me to keep food down or use the restroom. It just soothes some of the symptoms.”

Indonesia takes a hard line regarding narcotics and carried out executions in 2016, via shooting, of an Indonesian and three foreigners convicted of drug-related crimes. More than 500 people – with nearly a hundred foreigners – face execution in the nation, mostly for drug-related crimes.

Law enforcement have said that the athlete messaged his fellow players saying that he planned to distribute portions of the edibles with them. “Their definition of narcotics, I view as treatment,” he remarks. “Cultural perspectives vary.”

Seeking Support and Resolution

After Shaw’s arrest, police officials informed the media that the American might receive a life sentence or possibly execution upon conviction. “Our ongoing investigation aims to uncover and halt the international drugs network behind this case preventing further spread,” an official said.

The athlete was presented during a media event, shown in handcuffs wearing an orange prison-issue T-shirt and a black face mask. He faced away from spectators as officials exhibited the cannabis gummies, totaling 869 grams and are worth $400.

He argued that to charge him with possession of almost a kilo of cannabis is unfair and “sick,” given that the bulk comes from the candy material instead of the active ingredient. “I’ve been charged for a large quantity,” he says. “My actual possession was far less.”

The player is seeking donations for his rising legal fees. His trial has not begun despite being arrested five months ago, and he awaits his initial court date. “They’re making it seem as if I’m a major trafficker,” he asserts. “What reason would I have to import the candy here for sale? They were for my own needs.”

Wider Implications and Advocacy

A representative from an organization campaigning for the release of people imprisoned for cannabis-related offences commented: “Jarred’s case is not unique. Globally, people are serving harsh penalties for non-violent cannabis offenses which are not dangerous to society.” Even in the US, she added, many people are still imprisoned for similar offenses despite recreational legalization in almost half of states and a medical greenlight in all but two. “Such penalties contradict international human rights standards,” she stated.

Possible benefits of cannabis on Crohn’s disease lacks extensive research but recent papers have indicated that cannabis may relieve persistent pain with minimal risks. Amid this, public figures have discussed the benefits of cannabis treatments.

There are parallels between Shaw’s case and that of Brittney Griner, the acclaimed player detained in Russia for 10 months in 2022 when officials discovered cannabis vape cartridges in her bags. Griner was eventually released through an exchange involving a Russian weapons trafficker.

“Jarred has always been an exceptionally kind and selfless people one might encounter,” a close associate remarked on Shaw’s fundraising page. “He erred. However, it’s unjust that this should ruin his entire future.”

The US embassy in Jakarta stated they know about the situation but would not comment further.

A support worker involved in the case commented: “Cannabis itself is not lethal, but possessing it can. We must get as much attention on this case so that a positive resolution will set a powerful precedent. I’m dedicated to making sure he returns to his family.”

• The Indonesian National Police did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.