American basketball player Jarred Shaw, once celebrated for his athletic prowess on the court, now finds himself in the most perilous predicament of his life. The 35-year-old Texan, who played a pivotal role in securing Prawira Bandung’s victory in the 2023 Indonesian Basketball League (IBL), is currently detained in Indonesia and faces possible life imprisonment or even the death penalty for possessing cannabis gummies. The incident, which unfolded in early May 2025, has not only upended Shaw’s career but has also ignited debate about medical marijuana, harsh drug laws, and the fate of Americans abroad.
According to Black Enterprise and Marijuana Moment, Shaw was arrested on May 7 after picking up a package containing 132 cannabis gummies from his apartment complex’s lobby near Jakarta. Indonesian police, tipped off by customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta Airport about a suspicious package from Thailand, quickly moved in to confiscate the gummies. The package’s contents weighed a total of 869 grams, which, under Indonesia’s notoriously strict drug statutes, is treated as nearly a kilogram of marijuana—regardless of the fact that much of the weight came from non-cannabis ingredients in the edibles.
Shaw, who has been open about his struggle with Crohn’s disease, maintains that the cannabis gummies were intended solely for personal medicinal use. Crohn’s disease is a chronic, incurable inflammatory condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract, often causing severe pain and digestive issues. In a phone interview from prison with The Guardian, Shaw explained, “I use cannabis as a medicine. There’s no medicine apart from cannabis that stops my stomach from aching.” He added, “With my stomach condition, sometimes it’s hard for me to keep food down or go to the toilet. It just soothes the pain a little bit.”
Despite Shaw’s insistence on the gummies’ medical purpose, Indonesian law does not distinguish between recreational and medicinal use when it comes to cannabis. The country’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs is among the harshest in the world, and violations can result in extraordinarily severe penalties, including life sentences and capital punishment. As of October 3, 2025, Shaw remains in prison outside Jakarta, awaiting a court date that has yet to be set.
“I’ve never been through anything like this,” Shaw confessed in his interview, describing the ordeal as the “lowest point in [my] life” and admitting, “I felt helpless and alone. I didn’t want to wake up again.” The psychological toll has been immense, and his future remains uncertain. He’s also been banned for life from the IBL, effectively ending his professional basketball career in Indonesia.
Shaw’s arrest has drawn international attention, not only because of his status as a prominent athlete but also due to the broader implications for Americans traveling or living abroad in countries with draconian drug laws. The U.S. State Department, when contacted by Marijuana Moment, stated, “We are aware of reports of a U.S. citizen detained in Indonesia,” but declined further comment, citing privacy considerations. The White House, meanwhile, has remained silent on the matter, with government representatives unavailable due to a shutdown.
Shaw’s case is reminiscent of other high-profile incidents involving Americans detained overseas for cannabis-related offenses. Marc Fogel, a former teacher and registered medical marijuana patient from Pennsylvania, was convicted of “drug smuggling” in Russia and sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession of a half-ounce of cannabis. After prolonged advocacy and pressure from lawmakers, Fogel was eventually designated as a wrongfully detained individual by the U.S. government—a move that helped secure his release. Similarly, Brittney Griner, a U.S. basketball star, was previously incarcerated in Russia over marijuana possession, drawing widespread media attention and sparking debates about drug laws and diplomatic intervention.
In Shaw’s case, however, there is little clarity regarding the next steps. The current U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump, has taken a hardline stance on international drug trafficking, recently declaring a “non-international armed conflict” with cartels and stepping up enforcement against suspected traffickers. At the same time, Trump has hinted at possible changes to domestic marijuana policy, touting the health benefits of hemp-derived CBD and suggesting a rescheduling proposal is under consideration. Whether any of this will translate into diplomatic support for Shaw remains unknown.
For now, Shaw’s supporters are rallying to his aid. His friend, Bree Petruzio, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his mounting legal fees. Shaw, for his part, remains adamant that he is not a criminal. “They’re making it seem like I’m this big drug dealer,” he told The Guardian. “Why would I bring the candy here to sell? It was for personal use.” Law enforcement officials, however, have alleged that Shaw intended to share the gummies with teammates, a claim he firmly denies.
The broader context of Shaw’s predicament highlights the stark contrast between evolving attitudes toward cannabis in the United States and the unyielding prohibition still enforced in much of Southeast Asia. While many U.S. states have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, Indonesia remains steadfast in its opposition, with even minor infractions carrying the gravest of consequences. For Americans like Shaw, the risks of running afoul of these laws are all too real.
Shaw’s story also underscores the challenges faced by individuals with chronic illnesses who rely on cannabis for relief. “I don’t use it to have fun and go party,” he said. “It just soothes the pain a little bit.” Yet in Indonesia, such explanations offer little protection against the machinery of the law.
As the legal process grinds forward, Shaw’s fate hangs in the balance. He has not yet been granted a court date, and the specter of a life sentence—or worse, the death penalty—looms large. For now, he waits in a foreign cell, far from home, hoping that reason and compassion will ultimately prevail.
The outcome of Jarred Shaw’s case may hinge not only on the letter of Indonesian law but on the willingness of governments and advocates to intervene. Until then, his story stands as a sobering reminder of the risks faced by travelers and the profound human cost of global drug policy disparities.
