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When Jarred Shaw, a US athlete playing in Indonesia, descended to his apartment lobby in recent months to pick up a package with illegally imported cannabis gummies, he thought the medicine for easing his Crohn’s disease had arrived.

Indeed it did – however, so did 10 undercover police officers. A video on social media shows the athlete, wearing a dark top and shorts, shouting for help as the swarm of officers attempt to detain him.

Confronting Severe Consequences

The 35-year-old from Dallas, Texas, could face the possibility of execution or extended imprisonment. Previously, he served as a key member of his Indonesian team, who won the national basketball league in 2023, and he scored over a thousand points over three seasons in the country. However, currently he is languishing in detention before trial and faces a lifetime ban from the league.

“Cannabis serves as my treatment,” he stated during a call from a prison near Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. “I suffer from a chronic inflammation called Crohn’s disease that’s incurable. No other medication apart from cannabis that relieves my abdominal pain.”

When not playing, Shaw lives in Thailand, where the laws on cannabis are more liberal laws. He mentions he had endured the pain of going without cannabis in previous campaigns in Indonesia but says that health reasons spurred him to bring in the intercepted supply of over a hundred edibles this year. “It was a foolish error,” he admits.

Legal and Personal Struggles

But that mistake does not justify execution or a long spell in prison, he contends. “There’s people telling me I could end up spending the rest of my life in prison over some edibles,” he states. “This is unlike any previous experience.” Initially, for weeks following his detention, he was at “my most difficult period” and in a “deeply troubled state of mind.”

“I experienced isolation and despair,” he shares. “I didn’t want to wake up again.” But through prayer and his faith, as well as access to a detention center gym, he is gradually recovering even while the 6ft 11in athlete 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 multiple countries. “I would love to continue my basketball career.”

Treatment Needs Versus Drug Laws

The player, a center or power forward, says cannabis helps ease his mental health struggles, as well as insomnia and the pain from Crohn’s. “I don’t use it to have fun and go party,” he clarifies. “Due to my digestive issues, it can be challenging to retain meals or go to the toilet. It just soothes the pain a little bit.”

The nation enforces strict policies on drugs and carried out executions in 2016, by firing squad, of an Indonesian and three foreigners convicted of drug-related crimes. More than 500 people – with nearly a hundred foreigners – are on death row in the country, primarily due to narcotics violations.

Law enforcement have said that Shaw sent text messages to his teammates saying that he planned to distribute some of the cannabis candies among them. “Their definition of narcotics, I view as treatment,” he remarks. “Cultural perspectives vary.”

Fundraising and Future Hopes

After Shaw’s arrest, authorities informed the media that the American might receive life in prison or even the death penalty if found guilty. “Our ongoing investigation aims to the investigation to uncover the international drugs network behind this case preventing further spread,” an official stated.

The athlete was presented at a press conference, shown in handcuffs dressed in detention attire and face covering. He faced away from spectators as police chiefs displayed the cannabis gummies, totaling 869 grams and are worth $400.

He said that accusing him of possession of almost a kilo of cannabis is unfair and “sick,” given that most of the weight comes from the candy material instead of the active ingredient. “I’ve been charged for a large quantity,” he notes. “I didn’t have anything near that.”

The player is seeking donations for his rising legal fees. He has not yet appeared in court although detained months prior, 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 these items to sell? They were for my own needs.”

Wider Implications and Advocacy

An advocacy director from a group supporting individuals jailed over cannabis said: “This situation is not unique. Globally, individuals face extreme sentences for non-violent cannabis offenses that pose no threat to society.” In the United States as well, she noted, many people are still imprisoned for cannabis offences even with legalization in numerous states and medical approval in most regions. “Such penalties run counter to international human rights standards,” she stated.

Possible benefits of cannabis for Crohn’s lacks extensive research but recent papers have indicated that cannabis may relieve chronic lower back pain with minimal risks. This comes as, leaders have highlighted the benefits of cannabis treatments.

Similarities exist with this case and that of another American athlete, the acclaimed player who was imprisoned in another country for nearly a year in 2022 after authorities found cannabis products in her luggage. Griner was eventually released as part of a prisoner swap involving a Russian weapons trafficker.

“Jarred has always been one of the most generous and selfless people one might encounter,” his friend remarked in a supportive statement. “Jarred made a mistake. But I don’t believe that mistake should cost him his life prospects.”

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

An advocacy assistant handling Shaw’s case said: “Cannabis itself is not lethal, but possessing it can. We must get significant focus on this case so that a positive resolution can influence future cases. I am committed to making sure Jarred gets home to his mother.”

• Local authorities offered no reply regarding inquiries for this story.