'It Simply Calms My Pain' - American Basketballer Caught with Cannabis Breaks Silence, Faces Death Sentence in Indonesia

An American basketball player caught with cannabis in Indonesia has broken his silence five months after his arrest, facing a possible death sentence.

Jarred Shaw, a 35-year-old basketball player who has spent recent seasons in Indonesia, has broken his silence five months after his arrest for cannabis possession. He faces a potential death sentence or a lengthy prison term, a situation he describes as astonishing.

In mid-May, Jared Shaw, a player for the Tangerang Hawks, was detained at his Jakarta home after collecting a package containing cannabis-infused gummies. He claims he uses these for his Crohn's disease.

Jared Shaw, 5 Months After Arrest: "I Use Cannabis as Medicine"

Police apprehended Shaw, and he was subsequently jailed. Under Indonesia's strict anti-drug laws, he risks life imprisonment or even the death penalty if convicted. The 2023 Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) champion recently spoke to The Guardian, explaining his predicament.

“I use cannabis as medicine. I have an inflammatory condition called Crohn’s disease, which is incurable. There is no other medicine besides cannabis that stops my stomach pains,” Shaw stated during a phone call from the prison on the outskirts of Jakarta.

“People are telling me I’m going to spend the rest of my life in prison for some edible gummies. I’ve never been through anything like this before. For the first two months after my arrest, I was at the lowest point of my life and in a very dark mental state. I made a foolish mistake,” the basketball player added.

Jarred Shaw maintains he ordered the cannabis gummies to treat his Crohn's disease and alleviate pain. The package contained 132 gummies, weighing 869 grams.

“I don’t use it to have fun or go to parties. With my stomach condition, sometimes it’s hard for me to keep food down or go to the bathroom. It just calms the pain a little,” Shaw continued.

“I was accused of having almost a kilogram. I didn't have anywhere near that quantity. They’re making it seem like I’m a big drug trafficker. Why would I bring gummies here to sell them? They were for personal use,” the 35-year-old athlete said, expressing his frustration that he was accused of possessing nearly a kilogram of cannabis when the active substance itself weighs very little.

Shaw revealed that he struggled through his initial months in prison, at times not wanting to wake up. The 2.11-meter center has since started using the prison gym and praying more, which has helped him recover. He is now raising funds to cover his legal expenses.

Jarred Shaw Aided by Organisation: "I'm Dedicated to Getting Him Back to His Mother"

Indonesia enforces a very strict drug policy. Ronald Sipayung, head of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, outlined the potential consequences for Shaw early on. Police claimed the basketball player told teammates he would share the gummies, but Shaw continues to assert he considered them pain medication.

“We are continuing the investigation to uncover the international drug network behind this case and to stop distribution,” Sipayung said.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Shepard, director at the Last Prisoner Project (LPP), an organisation advocating for the release of individuals incarcerated for cannabis-related offences, stated: “Around the world, people are serving extreme sentences for non-violent cannabis offences that pose no threat to public safety. These penalties contradict international human rights standards.”

“Cannabis can’t kill you, but possessing it can. We need to draw as much attention to this case as possible, hoping that a positive resolution will set a strong precedent. I’m dedicated to making sure Jarred gets back home to his mother,” added Donte West of LPP, who is handling Shaw’s case.

The Indonesian National Police did not respond to The Guardian's request for comment on the matter, while the American Embassy confirmed it is aware of the case.