Jarred Shaw, a 35-year-old American basketball player, is serving a 26-month prison sentence in Indonesia after ordering cannabis gummies to manage his Crohn's disease. He was arrested in May 2025 and faced the possibility of the death penalty under Indonesia's strict drug laws, but was cleared of trafficking charges in December and sentenced to a lesser term.
Shaw, who played for the Prawira Bandung team and won the Indonesian Basketball League in 2023, suffers from Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition. He had used cannabis legally in Thailand to alleviate symptoms, but made what he calls a 'stupid mistake' by ordering 132 gummies to his apartment in Indonesia.
After his arrest, Shaw was held in an overcrowded prison where a fire in 2021 killed over 40 inmates. Following assistance from the US embassy, he was moved to another facility where conditions improved, but he still struggles with inadequate food that exacerbates his Crohn's symptoms. He has lost 35 pounds since his arrest.
In November, a doctor recommended hospital tests for Shaw, including a colonoscopy, but he has yet to be admitted. He fears his condition could worsen and lead to colorectal cancer. 'Hopefully someone with higher power can at least help me get to the hospital,' he said.
