An American basketball star is facing a possible death sentence in Indonesia after being arrested for possessing cannabis gummies valued at just $400. The case of 35-year-old Jarred Shaw, a former Utah State Aggies basketball star, has shocked both sports fans and human rights advocates worldwide.
Shaw, who stands 6 feet 11 inches tall, was detained by undercover police in Tangerang, a city near Jakarta, after allegedly picking up a parcel containing 132 cannabis gummies imported illegally from Thailand. The basketball star was charged under Indonesia’s strict narcotics laws, which carry some of the world’s harshest penalties. If convicted, he could face life in prison—or even the death penalty.
Before his arrest, the basketball star had been playing professionally for the Tangerang Hawks in Indonesia’s Basketball League. He has also represented teams across Argentina, Tunisia, Thailand, and Venezuela.
The case has quickly drawn global attention, highlighting the extreme drug policies that even small amounts of cannabis gummies can trigger.
In an interview from his prison cell, the basketball star told The Guardian that the cannabis gummies were strictly for medical use. “I use cannabis as a medicine,” he explained. “I have Crohn’s disease, an incurable inflammatory condition, and the cannabis gummies help relieve my pain and improve my digestion.” His claim underscores the growing global debate over how medical marijuana and products like cannabis gummies should be treated under international law.
Indonesia has not executed anyone since 2016, but over 500 prisoners remain on death row, most for drug-related crimes. Human rights groups have condemned the potential punishment of the basketball star, calling it disproportionate for what amounts to a minor, nonviolent offense.
They argue that products like cannabis gummies, legal in much of North America and parts of Europe, should not warrant a death sentence elsewhere.
The basketball star’s supporters have launched an online campaign demanding his release and urging diplomatic intervention from the U.S. government. They argue that Shaw’s use of cannabis gummies was medicinal, not criminal, and that he deserves compassion, not capital punishment.
As the case unfolds, the world watches to see whether Indonesia’s rigid drug enforcement will make an exception or if this basketball star will become the latest cautionary tale in the global war on drugs fueled by something as small as cannabis gummies.