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When the American basketball player, a US athlete playing in Indonesia, descended to the lobby of his residence earlier this year to collect a delivery with smuggled cannabis gummies, he believed his medication for relieving his Crohn’s disease had been delivered.

Indeed it did – but so too had 10 undercover police 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 Texan native, aged 35, could face potential execution or extended imprisonment. Previously, he served as an integral player of Prawira Bandung, who won the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) in 2023, and he scored over a thousand points over three seasons in the country. However, currently he remains in detention before trial and is banned for life from the IBL.

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

During the off-season, Shaw resides in a neighboring country, where cannabis is subject to more liberal laws. He mentions he had endured the pain of going without cannabis in earlier seasons in Indonesia but explains how health reasons spurred him to import 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 execution or lengthy incarceration, he argues. “There’s people telling me I could end up spending the rest of my life behind bars for cannabis candies,” he states. “This is unlike 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 experienced isolation and despair,” he shares. “Waking up felt unbearable.” Yet, with spiritual practices, as well as access to a prison gym, he is starting to feel himself again even while the 6ft 11in athlete occupies a small cell with multiple inmates. “I just turned 35 but I still feel young,” says the ex-college player, with experience in Argentina, Japan, Turkey, Thailand and Tunisia. “I would love to continue my basketball career.”

Medical Use vs. Legal Perception

The player, a center or power forward, says 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. “With my stomach condition, 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 regarding narcotics and conducted executions in 2016, via shooting, of an Indonesian and three foreigners found guilty of drug offenses. More than 500 people – with nearly a hundred foreigners – face execution in the country, mostly for narcotics violations.

Indonesian police have said that the athlete messaged his fellow players indicating he planned to distribute portions of the edibles among them. “What they consider drugs, I view as treatment,” he remarks. “Cultural perspectives vary.”

Seeking Support and Resolution

Following his detention, authorities told reporters that Shaw might receive life in prison or possibly execution if found guilty. “We are still running uncover and halt global drug networks involved and to stop its distribution,” an official stated.

Shaw was swiftly paraded during a media event, shown in handcuffs 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 valued at four hundred dollars.

He argued that to charge him with possession of almost a kilo of cannabis is unjust and “sick,” given that the bulk is made up by the gummies themselves rather than the active ingredient. “I’m accused of almost a kilo,” 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 is still waiting his initial court date. “They’re making it seem like I’m this big drug dealer,” he asserts. “Why would I bring the candy here for sale? It was for personal use.”

Wider Implications and Advocacy

A representative from a group campaigning for individuals jailed over cannabis said: “Jarred’s case is not unique. Around the world, people are serving harsh penalties for non-violent cannabis offenses that pose no threat to public safety.” In the United States as well, she added, many people are still imprisoned for similar offenses even with legalization in numerous states and medical approval in most regions. “These punishments contradict international human rights standards,” she emphasized.

The potential efficacy of cannabis on Crohn’s disease is understudied but recent papers have indicated that cannabis may relieve persistent pain with minimal risks. Amid this, public figures have highlighted potential advantages of cannabis treatments.

There are parallels with this case and the situation of another American athlete, the acclaimed player detained in Russia for nearly a year in 2022 after authorities found cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage. Griner was eventually released as part of a prisoner swap with a foreign national.

“Jarred has always been an exceptionally kind and selfless people you could meet,” his friend said on Shaw’s fundraising page. “He erred. However, it’s unjust that this should ruin his life prospects.”

The US embassy in Jakarta stated they know about Shaw’s case but declined additional details.

An advocacy assistant handling Shaw’s case said: “Cannabis can’t kill you, but ownership might be. We must get as much attention on this case in the hope that a favorable outcome will set a powerful precedent. I am committed to ensuring he returns to his mother.”

• Local authorities offered no reply to a request for comment on this matter.