EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Basketball Star Avoids Death Penalty In Indonesia After Court Rules In THC Gummies Case

For seven months, American athlete Jarred Shaw sat inside Indonesia’s prison system, wondering whether a package of THC gummies sent from Thailand would cost him his life. On Tuesday, an Indonesian court sentenced the 35-year-old to 26 months. The decision marks a sharp departure from the death penalty framework that police and prosecutors had floated earlier in the case.

According to humanitarian advocate and international justice negotiator Donte West, who shared the verdict directly with High Times, the ruling reflects an uncommon acknowledgment of medical context inside Indonesia’s narcotics courts. Shaw uses THC products to manage symptoms of Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition he has spoken about publicly throughout his career.

“This is a major step forward globally,” West said. “Jarred was wrongfully pushed toward a death penalty narrative over THC gummies used for medical treatment. Today’s outcome gives him a fighting chance to return home, receive proper medical care, and be reunited with his family.”

A case that nearly ended in a death sentence

Shaw’s arrest in May followed the delivery of a package authorities said contained THC-infused gummies. Indonesian officials initially accused him of trafficking, a classification that can carry the country’s most severe penalties. Early briefings to local media framed Shaw as a distributor rather than a patient.

Today’s verdict tells a different story. The court did not apply trafficking enhancements. The shift in sentencing reflects new weight given to medical evidence and Shaw’s documented Crohn’s disease.

High Times reviewed direct communications between Shaw’s attorney and the advocacy team confirming the court’s decision and the medical findings presented during the process.

Attorney Richard Siregar told High Times that medical verification played a critical role. “We confirmed Jarred’s medical condition and assessed the severity of his Crohn’s disease. This was a medical examination. We also communicated with the U.S. Embassy, and they expressed surprise that Jarred was able to be taken to Abdi Waluyo Hospital. They told me it was extraordinary that Donte was able to secure Jarred’s transfer to that facility. In cases like this, such access is extremely rare.”

A rare diplomatic intervention

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta took the unusual step of providing humanitarian support for an active criminal case. According to West, the Embassy’s involvement centered on treatment access, due process and human rights considerations. High Times reviewed messages showing Embassy officials were in communication with Shaw’s team and aware of key medical developments.

Shaw also shared a statement. “I am grateful for everyone fighting for me. I used CBD to treat my medical condition. Without Donte guiding the legal team, I’m not sure if the Indonesian court would’ve accepted me being a user, not a distributor of narcotics. I’m thankful for the support of Jolly, my family, Sulius, and the Embassy, along with the Law Office of LHS & Partners. I have nothing but respect and honor for the Indonesian legal system.”

What happens now

Under Indonesian law, Shaw may qualify for remission credits, medical parole or other pathways to early release. His legal team is preparing medical evaluations as part of the next phase in the process.

The case highlights how quickly foreign nationals can move from everyday life to catastrophic legal stakes in countries with aggressive narcotics laws. It also underscores the growing tension between medical cannabis use and punitive drug frameworks.

For West, the verdict is both relief and a reminder of the broader landscape. “Jarred was facing the most extreme penalties in a system that rarely bends,” he said. “This sentence gives him a real chance to go home.”

Why it matters

Shaw’s case joins a growing list of international cannabis detentions involving Americans who cross borders unaware of stark legal differences. A medical gummy in one country can become a capital offense in another. This verdict forces that contrast into focus and raises new questions about how cannabis derivatives are treated under Southeast Asian narcotics laws.

Images courtesy of Donte West. Original photography by COURTSHUTTER, licensed for editorial use by High Times.

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