Jarred Shaw survived the most dangerous moment of his life.
The American professional basketball player once faced the possibility of execution in Indonesia after authorities intercepted a package containing cannabis gummies addressed to him. Under Indonesia’s strict drug laws, trafficking charges can carry the death penalty, placing Shaw in immediate legal danger.
After a tense legal battle, the court rejected the most severe charges.
Instead of execution, Shaw was sentenced to 26 months in prison. He now has approximately 12 months remaining while battling serious health complications related to Crohn’s disease inside the prison system.
What began as a drug case has evolved into a larger story about international drug laws, chronic illness, and the advocates who stepped in when the situation became life threatening.
A Basketball Career That Took Him Around the World
Before his arrest, Shaw built a career playing professional basketball internationally.
Standing nearly seven feet tall, the center competed in multiple leagues across the globe and eventually became part of Indonesia’s professional basketball circuit. One of the highlights of his career came when he helped lead Prawira Bandung to an Indonesian Basketball League championship, establishing himself as one of the league’s most impactful imports.
Behind the scenes, however, Shaw had long been managing Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the digestive system.
The illness can cause severe abdominal pain, fatigue, infections, and digestive complications. Managing Crohn’s typically requires specialized treatment, strict diets, and consistent medical supervision.
While spending time in Thailand during off-seasons, Shaw used cannabis legally to help manage inflammation, stimulate appetite, and control symptoms tied to the disease.
That treatment would later place him at the center of a legal crisis.
The Arrest That Put His Life At Risk
In May 2025, Indonesian authorities intercepted a package containing cannabis gummies addressed to Shaw’s residence.
Indonesia enforces some of the harshest drug laws in the world. Cannabis is classified alongside substances like heroin and methamphetamine, and trafficking charges can lead to execution.
Shaw was arrested and quickly found himself facing charges that carried the possibility of the death penalty.
The situation became real immediately—first during the arrest, then throughout the trial as the threat of execution loomed over the case. At the same time, Shaw’s health began deteriorating while he was being held in detention.
Donte West Steps In
One of the most important developments in Shaw’s case came through cannabis justice advocate Donte West.
West knows incarceration firsthand. He previously served time in the United States for a cannabis conviction before dedicating his life to helping others navigate similar situations.
After his release, he became involved in cannabis prisoner advocacy and worked with the Last Prisoner Project, where he helped secure freedom for multiple incarcerated individuals.
Among those he helped free were Deshaun Durham and Kyle Page, the latter of whom now operates legally in New Jersey’s cannabis industry.
When Shaw’s arrest became public, West believed the situation required immediate attention.
Because Shaw’s case involved an international arrest and had not yet reached sentencing at the time, it fell outside the jurisdiction of the organization West had been working with.
West chose not to walk away.
He traveled to Indonesia himself and began assisting Shaw’s legal team.
Working alongside Indonesian attorneys, he helped ensure Shaw’s medical condition and circumstances were clearly presented during the proceedings.
Photos from the case show West visiting Shaw in detention and standing beside him during court appearances, demonstrating the personal commitment he brought to the situation.
That involvement helped shape the outcome.
The court ultimately rejected trafficking charges and sentenced Shaw to prison rather than execution.
A New Fight Behind Bars
While avoiding the death penalty saved Shaw’s life, it did not resolve the medical challenges he now faces.
Crohn’s disease requires specialized treatment and close monitoring. In a conversation with Shaw, he explained the prison medical system does not have the resources needed to properly manage the condition.
Infections have already developed, and the limited food options inside the facility make symptom management even more difficult. Crohn’s patients typically rely on carefully controlled diets to prevent inflammation, something that is nearly impossible within the prison environment.
Supporters say Shaw’s condition now requires urgent medical attention as he continues serving his sentence.
The Creation of Forgotten Prisoner
Shaw’s case also pushed West to expand his advocacy work.
After witnessing how certain prisoners can fall through the cracks—especially those arrested overseas or whose cases fall outside traditional nonprofit jurisdictions—West launched a new organization called Forgotten Prisoner with assistance from his brothers he helped free Kyle Page and Deshaun Durham.
The nonprofit focuses on helping cannabis prisoners who might otherwise be overlooked.
Advocates with Forgotten Prisoner have begun raising awareness across the cannabis industry, including at major gatherings such as MJBizCon, where supporters and cultural voices like hip-hop group Dead Prez helped bring attention to Shaw’s situation.
For West, the mission is simple: no prisoner should be forgotten because their case falls outside existing advocacy frameworks.
A Story Still Unfolding
Jarred Shaw avoided the death penalty, but his fight is far from over.
As he works to complete the remaining months of his sentence, supporters continue pushing for medical attention and humanitarian consideration due to his worsening health condition.
His case highlights the growing conflict between global cannabis prohibition and the increasing recognition of cannabis as a treatment for serious medical conditions like Crohn’s disease.
For Shaw, that conflict is no longer theoretical.
It is the reality he faces every day.
The legal battle that once determined his fate may be over.
But the fight for his health—and ultimately his future—continues.
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