An American basketball player who escaped the death penalty in Indonesia after being caught with cannabis gummies is now fighting to preserve his health in a foreign prison, with his untreated Crohn’s disease taking a severe toll on his body.
Jarred Shaw, 35, was a key member of the Prawira Bandung team that won the Indonesian Basketball League in 2023, the latest highlight in a professional career that had taken him across four continents. But the Texan’s life took a dramatic turn in May 2025 when he ordered a package of 132 cannabis gummies to his apartment complex in Indonesia.
A ‘Stupid Mistake’ With Severe Consequences
Like many living with Crohn’s disease—a chronic inflammatory bowel condition affecting the digestive tract—Shaw found cannabis helped alleviate his often excruciating symptoms. He used the substance legally for medical purposes in Thailand during the off-season, where cannabis has been legalized.
“That was until he made what he calls a ‘stupid mistake’ and ordered a package of 132 cannabis gummies to be delivered to his apartment complex in Indonesia,” the report states.
Indonesia maintains some of the world’s harshest drug laws, classifying cannabis alongside heroin and methamphetamine despite its legalization for medical and recreational use across much of North America and Europe. The $400 worth of gummies could have resulted in a death sentence by firing squad—a punishment the country carried out as recently as 2016.
Relief and Continued Struggle
In December, Shaw was found guilty of drug possession but cleared of trafficking charges, sparing him from execution. He received a 26-month sentence, including time served, and a $50,000 fine.
“Looking back it’s just a fucked situation,” Shaw told The Guardian by phone from his prison west of Jakarta. “I wish I could go back and change my actions but it was definitely a relief to know I wasn’t getting the death penalty.”
Initially held in an overcrowded prison where a 2021 fire killed more than 40 inmates, Shaw was transferred to another facility with assistance from the US embassy. He now shares a cell with four others—an improvement from the previous dozen—but conditions remain far from comfortable.
Health Deteriorates Without Proper Care
The lack of access to healthy food has exacerbated Shaw’s Crohn’s symptoms. The prison’s fried offerings leave his stomach unsettled and acidic, and he cannot afford to consistently order healthier options from outside. On some days, he suffers sharp pain, nausea, and vomiting, affecting his anxiety and depression.
“Obviously some days are better than others,” he said. “I kind of get down sometimes. I just try not to even think about it.”
In November, after six months in jail, a doctor assessed Shaw and found he was experiencing abdominal pain, mild anemia, and tested positive for E. coli infection, which can cause diarrhea, bleeding, and fever. The doctor noted Shaw’s previous diagnosis of ulcerated colitis and recommended three days of hospital testing, including a colonoscopy and intestinal ultrasound.
Nearly four months later, Shaw is still awaiting admission to the hospital.
“When I got arrested I was 245lbs,” said Shaw, who stands 6 feet 11 inches tall. “I’m down to 210lbs now and it’s concerning. The proper nutrition isn’t here.”
Fearing Long-Term Consequences
People with Crohn’s disease face an increased risk of colorectal cancer, and Shaw fears the ulcers around his colon could worsen.
“We’re trying to get them to understand,” he said. “Even though there’s no cure for [Crohn’s], you have to treat it, or it could get worse. Hopefully someone with higher power can at least help me get to the hospital.”
The irony of his situation is not lost on him: he was jailed for seeking access to the one medicine that soothes his condition.
“Cannabis helps me tremendously as far as aches and pain and appetite, and not feeling down,” he said. “It’s that it’s looked down upon like it’s something bad. I just try to stay positive.”
Seeking Compassionate Release
To pass the time, Shaw works out in the prison gym and plays tennis slowly when his stomach permits. He is writing a book about his experience and keeps mostly to himself.
“I just keep my mind busy and pretty much stay isolated,” he said. “I’m not really here to make any friends or anything like that, so I just kind of stay to myself and days go past.”
His legal team is petitioning Indonesia’s health minister for compassionate release, citing his cooperation in court and lack of prior criminal record.
“I have a real condition with evidence from specialists,” Shaw said. “Hopefully it can get to the right people.”
Asked whether he hopes to continue his basketball career, he replied: “After I get my health together I’ll consider it.”
