Here’s an important reminder of how laws differing across the world can potentially have very serious consequences (which you’d think would be obvious, but all too often it’s not).
In this post:
Indonesia raids American basketball player’s home
An American basketball player living in Indonesia is facing some serious consequences. 34-year-old Jarred Dwayne Shaw is originally from Dallas, but has played in the Indonesian Basketball League since 2022. For the past year, he has been playing with the Tangerang Hawks, and prior to that, he played with other clubs.
On May 7, 2025, he was arrested in his apartment just outside Jakarta, after a police raid. They seized 123 pieces of Delta 9 THC cannabis candies. So, how was he caught?
Customs officers at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK) came across a package addressed to him, which arrived from Thailand, and was flagged for extra screening. They determined the contents, and decided to carry out a sting. So the package was sent to him, and they then raided his home. During an interrogation, Shaw reportedly told police that he intended to share the weed gummies with his teammates.
Cannabis has been decriminalized in Thailand since November 2024. Indonesia, meanwhile, has extremely strict drug laws. As a result, if found guilty, he potentially faces a life sentence or death by firing squad.
The club has announced that he has been fired due to breach of contract, and the Indonesian Basketball League has stated that he has been banned from the sport in the country for life. In a social media post, the team put up a photo with the words “Thank You,” and a caption reading “sometimes, the story ends differently than we planned.”
Interestingly, despite Indonesia’s strict laws, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that Indonesia is a major drug smuggling hub. The country has around 530 people on death row, with most being for drug-related crimes, including 96 foreigners. The country’s last executions were carried out in 2016, also over drug crimes. While another 10 people were scheduled to be executed, they were ultimately spared.
This is an important reminder for travelers
There’s a lot of ignorance out there about drugs, with many people just putting them all in the same category. Like, there’s a difference between marijuana and something like meth, heroin, or fentanyl. Personally I think it’s absurdly stupid that so many countries are fine with alcohol but not with marijuana, but I digress, as that’s besides the point.
Regardless of how silly we might thinks laws are, and regardless of how infractions would be punished back home, it’s important to understand and respect laws in foreign countries. That’s true for travelers, and it’s even more true for someone working abroad for an extended period of time.
I sure hope that this guy gets a reduced sentence, and doesn’t end up spending his life in jail, or even worse. Reading about this, the story of WNBA star Brittney Griner comes to mind. In 2022, she was taken into custody in Russia after cannabis oil vape cartridges were found in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years in prison, though ended up being released after several months as part of a prisoner swap.
As an even less extreme example, I’m reminded of a 2021 situation, where an American was hospitalized in the UAE. A day after arriving in the country, he fell ill with pancreatitis, and prior to being discharged from the hospital, was asked to provide a urine sample. That revealed trace amounts of marijuana.
However, he hadn’t actually consumed it in the UAE, but rather, had some in Las Vegas (where it’s legal), prior to his trip. He ended up being arrested and thrown in jail, and was eventually released.
I’m not sure what the moral of the story there is, other than that international travel can be complicated, and we don’t enjoy the same protections abroad as at home.
Bottom line
An American basketball player in Indonesia is potentially facing some serious punishments, after receiving a shipment of weed gummies from Thailand. Indonesia has strict drug laws, and he could face execution by firing squad.
It’s a very important reminder that something that might be legal at home (or at worst not be life changing) could change the rest of your life abroad. Be careful out there! Obviously this guy had a major lapse in judgment, but I hope he doesn’t spend the rest of his life paying for this mistake.
If anything I hope this brings awareness that different countries have different laws. I grew up in the 90s and still remember the whole "Just say NO to drugs" campaign and it's still stuck in my mind. I'm a non-smoker and will admit that once marijuana was legalized in NYC, I smell it everywhere now! I even smelled it attending a Beyonce concert.
But do you drink coffee or alcohol?
Just say no except to lobbyist approved legal drugs.
The issue with marijuana is the smell. In the U.K. it’s prohibited for recreational use however the police don’t enforce it if it’s not a nuisance. You can smell it frequently when you’re out and about in London.
IMHO it should be legalised, however I repeat the smell is an issue in addition to the fact inhaling it by non smokers can have an adverse affect. They should produce and mandate odourless cannabis.
What a sob story article for a guy who obviously has a "side hustle" as a drug trafficker and who, just like the girl arrested in Russia for drugs, apparently has no respect for the country's laws! He's having hundreds of marijuana gummies shipped to him then claims that he's going to give them to teammates? Right. More like sell them. I seriously hope he does get the firing squad. It also was shameful that...
What a sob story article for a guy who obviously has a "side hustle" as a drug trafficker and who, just like the girl arrested in Russia for drugs, apparently has no respect for the country's laws! He's having hundreds of marijuana gummies shipped to him then claims that he's going to give them to teammates? Right. More like sell them. I seriously hope he does get the firing squad. It also was shameful that Biden got the girl arrested in Russia out when there were non-druggies that should've been released instead of her.
He got Hunter out too.
I literally could not wait to reads the comments on this one. For those of you having ANY issues with what Indonesia is doing:
To the woke liberals: explain how you have any right to tell another country what its laws and punishments should and should not be?
To the asleep MAGA supporters: explain how it's okay for you to tell Indonesia what its laws should be when we lose our sh!t when others...
I literally could not wait to reads the comments on this one. For those of you having ANY issues with what Indonesia is doing:
To the woke liberals: explain how you have any right to tell another country what its laws and punishments should and should not be?
To the asleep MAGA supporters: explain how it's okay for you to tell Indonesia what its laws should be when we lose our sh!t when others countries to us?
To everyone else: Indonesia, Singapore and a few other countries in that region are notorious for being very strict in their punishments. Our own judicial system says that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
I'm gay (not queer, GAY). When I traveled to the GCC for work I was not waving a pride flag around the client site and I was certainly not violating their laws on "contact." I made a choice to go there and knew I was expected to follow their rules...no matter how distasteful I found them.
Wow, it must be such a far way down to look at everyone else from where you sit...
I think the crucial detail many are ignoring is that he planned to share those "gummies" with his teammates. That makes him a dealer/distributor, and the penalty for that is much more severe than using drugs.
I guess it’s yet another dumb @ss liberal we have to trade for a war criminal. I love my gummies, but I always find out the local laws, unlike these low IQ liberals.
Republicans save their crocodile tears for a low IQ MAGA that accidentally gets caught with ammunition in Turks and Caicos.
As I said in that case, and I'll say again here, I have sympathy for all travelers that do something stupid where no one gets harmed that's legal in their home country. Deportation/bans and fines should be the primary mechanism for dealing with these people.
At Watson. None of those Americans needed a prisoner exchange. They all got off and were able to come home. Unlike low IQ liberals whom the US needed to exchange known war criminals and terrorists for. Big difference, amigo.
Right, I guess the US congressional delegation that traveled to the island had nothing to do with them getting off.
But the main point is that you lack empathy and care only about your cult. You'd chop off your foot if Trump told you it would "own the libs".
I thought Trump supporters don’t support drug legalization and prefer a good clean Christian lifestyle? I just told you I do gummies. I’m a Libertarian. Pro-choice. LGB supporter. But you liberals ALWAYS assume any criticism only come from MAGA, and that’s why you got absolutely pommeled in the election.
Bans and fines would simply encourage more crime as foreigners would face a much lower risk and thus more of them would accept the minor risk.
[citation needed]
Wait a minute.
In the past, when some basketball dude gets popped for drugs in another country, we've traded war criminals to get him back.
What's different here?
The difference here is;
You used the wrong pronouns.
LOL thanks for lightening it up!
So if this dude "identified as a girl", he'd be sprung?
So cool.
Grok says a 6'8" size 15 shoe smaller than A cup "male" like "Grittany" is a one in 308 million shot. I guess he, oops ""She"" is lucky and got traded for a murderer!
Apparently Jerry Springer is now a guest writer on this blog that used be the best source for travel-related advice and analysis
I just don't travel to these stupid countries (and I obey the laws where I travel). Problem solved.
One should always check the local rules and not just assume what is legal. For example, if you’re transiting through Doha Airport you’re allowed to carry alcoholic beverages under certain conditions. However, importing alcohol as a final destination to Qatar is prohibited and one can be fined and imprisoned presumably for bringing a 50 ml bottle of alcohol in the luggage. Also, do not bring weed to Qatar.
I’m nervous about even taking paracetamol or antihistamines with me. I would rather just buy them at my destination. Codeine based products are also prohibited in many countries including rye UAE, and that includes poppy seeds. So don’t bring a bagel or rugelach to Dubai.
That being said, on a recent visit to LA I was in Canter’s Deli and was chatting with a family from Dubai were buying lots of pastries to take with back with them.
Good article. Well written and informative.
Definitely related to travel. One mistake can really mess up your life, and come on: No one NEEDS marijuana. Go without it while you're in a country with super-strict laws about marijuana.
I have a medical card and I use marijuana daily, but it just eases pain and makes mundane chores interesting.
If I were going to Indonesia, I would not be taking gummies or flower or even an...
Good article. Well written and informative.
Definitely related to travel. One mistake can really mess up your life, and come on: No one NEEDS marijuana. Go without it while you're in a country with super-strict laws about marijuana.
I have a medical card and I use marijuana daily, but it just eases pain and makes mundane chores interesting.
If I were going to Indonesia, I would not be taking gummies or flower or even an ointment with me. I'd just "muscle through" the back and knee pain, or have someone drive me around.
Nobody needs to comment on whether a country's laws make sense. The laws are what they are, until they change, and usually they don't change (except to get worse).
Anyone who travels internationally needs to know what's illegal wherever they go. Then they need to weigh the risks of breaking the rules, and decide how much of their time and life they want to gamble.
On weed.
Anyway, thanks for posting the article. I'll be sharing it with some friends.
Safe travels.
One of the rare well-written comments in this blog.
Druggie trash. Cry me a River. And he’s barely American. You live abroad, you play by their rules.
Americans abroad have to pay American taxes even though no other country taxes it's overseas citizens. A don't think a man that files a 1040 is barely an American. But anyway if we insist he play by Indonesian rules, I suggest all of these 'barely Americans' should be exempt from the US taxes too to make it consistent.
Naive Aaron would soon realize the almost every top 50 American billionaire would suddenly become 'barely Americans'
How on earth is this a travel related post? It’s not even like he was caught with the gummies when flying into Indonesia. He lives there and they were mailed to him.
It's travel related because it draws attention to the issue of drug possession in Indonesia, something that travellers from the West need to be reminded of constantly.
Americans have no right to comments on the laws of other countries given the fascism that prevails at home. A country that has precipitously declined into fascism.
If it were up to many in congress, individuals would face a firing squad for merely speaking out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza
A lot of people I know who actually grew up in (and fled) fascist regimes would take issue with your generalization.
You're conflating a couple hundred tattooed guys banished to CECOT under innovative legal pretense with an erosion of the American democratic system. Hysterical would be an apt descriptor.
This is why the Dems have bled support across every key demographic. The vast majority of what you call decline is simply a difference...
A lot of people I know who actually grew up in (and fled) fascist regimes would take issue with your generalization.
You're conflating a couple hundred tattooed guys banished to CECOT under innovative legal pretense with an erosion of the American democratic system. Hysterical would be an apt descriptor.
This is why the Dems have bled support across every key demographic. The vast majority of what you call decline is simply a difference in opinion on policy.
And this comes from a life-long blue voter. Who is not MAGA in the least. But we need a return to sanity from polarization.
Trump and his goons are running the country in a way where, at best, it appears like they completely don’t care about what half of the country thinks and, at worst they are actively antagonizing them. Doesn’t seem like a great way to fix polarization to me.
@chasgoose again, life-long Dem here. This is hyperbolic. The other team won and they are carrying out their agenda in an expedient way. Let's deal with Biden's incapacity and the Obama era neoliberal abandonment of progressive ideals before we start feigning outrage.
Last time I checked, the majority of social programs (one of the highest levels of investments in a safety net in the world btw) and the stock market are doing great. Good,...
@chasgoose again, life-long Dem here. This is hyperbolic. The other team won and they are carrying out their agenda in an expedient way. Let's deal with Biden's incapacity and the Obama era neoliberal abandonment of progressive ideals before we start feigning outrage.
Last time I checked, the majority of social programs (one of the highest levels of investments in a safety net in the world btw) and the stock market are doing great. Good, hardworking people are not suffering.
Sorry but the Dems don’t care what the opposite half of the country thinks. Like it or not, that’s the current state of politics, so stop clutching your pearls when it’s a common tactic across the spectrum.
Their country - their rules , if you don't like it, don't go there, otherwise, keep your mouth shut and obey their laws and customs....
I agree, Americans have no right to comment on the laws of other Countries. We ARE, however, obligated to obey such laws.
Since you did bring it up, Some people are likely to face consequences not for demonstrating but breaking the law, assault, assault on police, and destruction of property. Actions have consequences.
SE Asia countries are trying to get higher productivity and in some cases adopting laws from Singapore because they're proven to work. In this case, he found himself in the crossfires of doing drugs and admitting he will give it to others. He's probably screwed.
Pretty stupid on his part. I take several medications. Before I travel anywhere I double check the legality of my meds. He knew they were illegal yet he bought them anyway. Its all on him.
FINISH HIM!!!!
I think the moral of this story is that certain countries are best avoided if you enjoy marijuana. Indonesia, UAE, and other muslim countries especially.
And certain are best embraced, if you enjoy entitlement, hypocrisy, and above the law.
Can't name names (plural as there is more than one) because it would offend the politically correct snowflakes who are woke and brainwashed.
Ordering them through the mail was not smart. It's as though people think Customs are idiots who don't screen incoming packages.
I don't think he'll get a death sentence, but he can expect to spend a long time in a disgusting Indonesian prison before he's deported.
Having it come from Thailand to Indonesia - this shows what an idiot this guy is... It's like ordering brownies from a bakery in Columbia that comes through Miami excepting no inspection of the packages by US Customs - Mr. Darwin - you were right.
It's like lying about drug use on a federal form to buy guns expecting no inspection of the forms by ATF- Mr. Darwin - you were right.
But even better
Mr. Joe you can make the wrong, right.
Columbia, South Carolina or Columbia University?
When I was flying to Australia last summer I was transiting through Fiji and after months of asking the Fijian authorities as well as the American embassy in Suva about the *Sudafed* I use for sinus headaches, I decided to pop a 12h at LAX and just buy Sudafed in Australia than risk carrying it into Fiji even though I wouldn't be leaving the airport, because it's illegal there. I never got a straight answer...
When I was flying to Australia last summer I was transiting through Fiji and after months of asking the Fijian authorities as well as the American embassy in Suva about the *Sudafed* I use for sinus headaches, I decided to pop a 12h at LAX and just buy Sudafed in Australia than risk carrying it into Fiji even though I wouldn't be leaving the airport, because it's illegal there. I never got a straight answer until I literally read the customs form which states medications that might be prohibited or controlled in Fiji are permitted for *international transfers* only. The point being, I do my goddamned homework and I don't expect to just "get lucky" and hope they don't rigorously search my bag.
You’re beautiful.
And you’re better than everyone else in the world.
The way the headline is worded makes it read as if American Airlines could face a firing squad.
They should for such poor service and IFE as well as lazy FAs who don't want to serve a second drink service in economy. They could stay the sentence pending a deadline to fix the above.
He could face it. They normally kill drug smugglers. They killed the Australians a few years ago.
Paging all Brittney Griner apologists.
Are we going to swap and set free a spy or arms dealer or someone who deserves to be locked up again?
That was such a lousy swab, leaving behind other Americans who were falsely charged. It might have been because Biden forgot and had a senior moment. He was already senile when he was first elected but others mocked me for bringing it up.
Biden didn't make this decision. It will be entertaining when we find out who actually made this one, and many other decisions over the 4 year period.
I mean it’s a little different. First she had only enough medically prescribed weed for personal use, this guy not only had over a hundred gummies, but he also admitted to the police that he intended to share it with friends. Secondly, the timing of Griner’s arrest so soon after the invasion of Ukraine and given that she was probably the most famous female professional basketball player in the world (and certainly in the US)...
I mean it’s a little different. First she had only enough medically prescribed weed for personal use, this guy not only had over a hundred gummies, but he also admitted to the police that he intended to share it with friends. Secondly, the timing of Griner’s arrest so soon after the invasion of Ukraine and given that she was probably the most famous female professional basketball player in the world (and certainly in the US) makes it hard to argue Griner wasn’t detained for political reasons.
This guy is some rando who literally imported weed gummies with the intent to distribute to his teammates. Certainly not worthy of the death penalty anywhere, but (not that I agree) that’s at least a minor crime in many US states. The Indonesian authorities also likely had no idea who he was when they intercepted his package. Maybe the initial customs officer who detained Griner had no idea who she was, but someone up the food chain in Russia almost certainly figured it out before they decided to throw the book at her.
We found the apologist chasgoose!!!!!
What a sick and messed up logic to defend someone who has broken the law. Did Russia or Indonesia exempt personal use? Do you get exempted for possession of heroin for personal use in America?
Unlike the military campaign by Russia that made drugs illegal, Indonesia didn't invade anyone, therefore drugs are legal?
Because you're famous, you breaking the law is a political decision? It's like let get Dennis Rodman...
We found the apologist chasgoose!!!!!
What a sick and messed up logic to defend someone who has broken the law. Did Russia or Indonesia exempt personal use? Do you get exempted for possession of heroin for personal use in America?
Unlike the military campaign by Russia that made drugs illegal, Indonesia didn't invade anyone, therefore drugs are legal?
Because you're famous, you breaking the law is a political decision? It's like let get Dennis Rodman do a PAC just to use meth.
He goes to jail because it's a PAC but not because of meth?
"had no idea who he is" doesn't make you above the law if you're famous. Griner should be in the gulag and answer to her crimes.
You're sending the wrong message out to kids and stupid adults everywhere.
It's OK to break the law as long as you're famous and can blame it on politics.
It's idiots like you who demands entitlements and bend the laws your own way are why our world and humanity is broken and messed up this bad.
There is a place in hell for you. Obsolete JoeAmateur already reserved a spot and is waiting for you.
Moral of the story is that don’t use any recreational illegal drugs and you will have zero problems anywhere in the world. Just because cannabis is legal in your state doesn’t mean it’s legal in other countries. Drink Pepsi. No one ever gotten arrested for drinking Sprite or Pepsi.
It’s not that easy. There are plenty of prescription drugs (especially ADHD and anxiety medicines) and even OTC drugs (like Sudafed) that are illegal in other countries (and not just highly repressive ones). Usually they won’t throw the book at tourists who clearly have a small amount of medicines in prescription bottles for personal use, but I think there was recently an incident where an American woman studying abroad in Japan endured some jail time...
It’s not that easy. There are plenty of prescription drugs (especially ADHD and anxiety medicines) and even OTC drugs (like Sudafed) that are illegal in other countries (and not just highly repressive ones). Usually they won’t throw the book at tourists who clearly have a small amount of medicines in prescription bottles for personal use, but I think there was recently an incident where an American woman studying abroad in Japan endured some jail time for having ADHD medicine in her possession.
I have learned to check before I visit anywhere, but there were certainly a few times I unknowingly took medicines into countries where having any amount of them was criminalized. Now if I do go to countries where it might be an issue, I usually have a note from my doctor, make sure everything is in its original prescription bottle, and usually only take enough to last me the duration of my trip. I was pulled aside at customs once in Japan, but they let me continue based on those factors.
It should be well known by now that anyone traveling with prescription meds needs to ensure they're in the original packaging, with an intact, clearly legible dispensary label applied by a pharmacist. It's not a bad idea to take a copy of the prescription with you, either. Oh, and make sure the name on the packaging matches the name on your passport, or there could be trouble. If you have a pack of Adderall or...
It should be well known by now that anyone traveling with prescription meds needs to ensure they're in the original packaging, with an intact, clearly legible dispensary label applied by a pharmacist. It's not a bad idea to take a copy of the prescription with you, either. Oh, and make sure the name on the packaging matches the name on your passport, or there could be trouble. If you have a pack of Adderall or MS Contin without a label, or a label with someone else's name, you can expect grief at the border.
Well, if they do that, all Americans should boycott travel there forever! I have been there before (Bali, different place within Indonesia) and it is a wonderful place. However, I would certainly never return should they give this person such a harsh punishment. Best the rest of us can do here or any most circumstances is to vote with our $. Everything you do or don't spend your money on is in fact a vote....
Well, if they do that, all Americans should boycott travel there forever! I have been there before (Bali, different place within Indonesia) and it is a wonderful place. However, I would certainly never return should they give this person such a harsh punishment. Best the rest of us can do here or any most circumstances is to vote with our $. Everything you do or don't spend your money on is in fact a vote. All money has some form of power and if as a collective we consolidate that power, then it can make a huge difference. #Strengthinnumbers
"However, I would certainly never return should they give this person such a harsh punishment."
Don't return to America.
Regards,
The Central Park 5.
#hypocrites
You do realise they have the death penalty in 27 US states and a convicted felon as President.
Why do something when he knew the consequences? Like that stupid British chav who somehow ended up in Tbilisi georgia with a pile of drugs. No sympathy
Please Eddie, don't come to Indonesia, we don't want you there. Clearly many posting here have no idea the draconian inspections by US Customs and how many people are denied entry or arrested at the border for all sorts of things.
My decision to travel to Indonesia would absolutely have nothing to do with whatever happens to this guy.
Marijuana was legalized in Thailand in June 2022, not November 2024.
And yet they have the death penalty in 27 US states. It’s well known Indonesia and Singapore have harsh rules related to drugs.
Singapore doesn't have harsh rules. Just don't smuggle in stuff. Nobody with a little marijuana was ever executed in Singapore though prison is possible. They only execute smugglers who smuggle in a lot.
192 pieces of 420 candy is a lot, but he won't get the death penalty. The Indonesian authorities are sabre-rattling. In the meantime this young man needs to keep his mouth firmly shut until he's found a lawyer. He really shouldn't have said anything to the cops without speaking to a lawyer first.
Hanafiah bin Bedullah hanged for importing cannabis. Also
Krishna Maikham and Don prompinit.
That was Singapore, right? The Indonesians didn't shoot Chapelle Corby when they caught her idiotic ass at Bali Airport with 4.2kg/9.3lb of high-potency hydroponic buds, so I doubt they'll shoot this dude.
These governments are ridiculous. We have them a little bit of authority for the greater good and they just ran off with it, usually not caring about the ppl, only money and power.
The President of the United States is a convicted felon (34x), rapist, racist, failed businessperson (many, many times over), smothered in bronzer, clinically obese, and most likely demented in the clinical sense. He just called one of America's legendary singers a "dried out prune." That's the leader of our government. We have no standing to call any other government ridiculous.
What the hell are you mumbling about Arps? It would be beyond a stretch to tie your comment to anything in this particular blog.
So what if we have two consecutive presidents with dementia? Other countries can still be bad. What kind of lawyer spews that stuff? Are you really Skadden Arps? I knew a former Skadden Arps lawyer that was incompetent. She changed to another NYC firm and charges something like $800/hour doing garbage quality work.
What are you even talking about? The leader of the United States has no bearing on your personal opinion of another country’s laws.
You read my comment, but clearly lack reading comprehension skills. Reread and ask yourself did I exclude the US in my generalization?
Except much of what you said was not true and you extremely biased opinion. Some more not caveated in the least. Oh, and, sorry, Bruce Springsteen is one of the most overrated singers in the country, and if hates on America, he can expect resistance.
Music is subjective, your opinion about what music preference you have does not align with many others who might prefer him. This is the same logic like people hating on Taylor swift and calling her overrated, just because you do not jibe with her music does not mean the hundreds of million others who do, does not. There is a reason why her concerts sells out and is record breaking, she is amazing to the...
Music is subjective, your opinion about what music preference you have does not align with many others who might prefer him. This is the same logic like people hating on Taylor swift and calling her overrated, just because you do not jibe with her music does not mean the hundreds of million others who do, does not. There is a reason why her concerts sells out and is record breaking, she is amazing to the people who love her kind of music.
You really are sounding Grumpy.
Arps, what’s it like to have someone you hate live inside your head 24/7? I love how you morons call him a 34X felon when everyone with half a brain knows corrupt lawfare was used against him. Phony charges. Phony judges. Misdemeanors turned into felony charges-that nobody has been charged with in the past. Every time a liberal calls him a felon it reminds the world how corrupt the Dems are and they are the...
Arps, what’s it like to have someone you hate live inside your head 24/7? I love how you morons call him a 34X felon when everyone with half a brain knows corrupt lawfare was used against him. Phony charges. Phony judges. Misdemeanors turned into felony charges-that nobody has been charged with in the past. Every time a liberal calls him a felon it reminds the world how corrupt the Dems are and they are the true fascists. A thief thinks everyone is a thief. Enjoy your hate for the next 4 years. We love it that he gets under your skin!! lol!!!!
@Brian
It will never cease to amaze me how you specifically and Repub voters in general can be so thickheaded in defense of a known con and grifter. We all heard Trump telling Raffensperger to find him another 11k votes to win Georgia in 2020. We all saw the boxes upon boxes of documents he refused to return to NARA to the point the FBI had to step in, and the indictment very clearly...
@Brian
It will never cease to amaze me how you specifically and Repub voters in general can be so thickheaded in defense of a known con and grifter. We all heard Trump telling Raffensperger to find him another 11k votes to win Georgia in 2020. We all saw the boxes upon boxes of documents he refused to return to NARA to the point the FBI had to step in, and the indictment very clearly laid out how sensitive some of that information was. Novel opinion here, but people should be prosecuted for crimes they commit, especially public officials.
Do YOU think any of that was ok? Do YOU think that's acceptable behavior by a person aspiring to the highest office in the US? Tell me straight, is that acceptable behavior or not? If not, why did you vote to put him back in office?
Political. Not contributory. Not appropriate for this site.
What does TDS have to do with this article?
Indonesia is such a weird place; they have all of these strict laws on the outside, and then Kerobokan prison is one of the top drug smuggling spots. When you hit a distribution amount like he did here, it's tens-hundreds of thousands of dollars, and you'll be out. Realistically, it gets more expensive the longer you wait in Indo.
It's a lovely country, but don't screw around with drugs here. At the same time, he knew the consequences going in.
How many of you did a double take at that headline and thought “American is pretty bad, but a firing squad?”.
There are some states in the US that have tried to bring back firing squads as a death penalty option in the last few years. I’m pretty sure a few even succeeded, despite none actually opting to use it yet.
All of the drugs used in lethal injection have legit medical uses on their own and almost all of them are produced by drug companies in countries (mostly in Europe) that have banned the death...
There are some states in the US that have tried to bring back firing squads as a death penalty option in the last few years. I’m pretty sure a few even succeeded, despite none actually opting to use it yet.
All of the drugs used in lethal injection have legit medical uses on their own and almost all of them are produced by drug companies in countries (mostly in Europe) that have banned the death penalty and it’s considered barbaric. Due to legal and shareholder pressure in their home countries, many of these pharmaceutical companies have refused to supply these drugs to prisons or states in the US that have a death row. Instead of taking the L, politicians in states with the death penalty (notably only death penalty states that are controlled by the GOP) spent taxpayer time and money to bring back the firing squad so they could kill more people.
Color me 100% unsympathetic. Ben, you and I are roughly the same age and we both grew up in suburban America where we presumably received exposure to the DARE antidrug program in elementary school. Now, say what you want about that program (empirical research found it ineffective or maybe even worse, it increased drug use!)- but the fact is drugs really are, in fact, bad.
Make what you will of the distinction between marijuana and...
Color me 100% unsympathetic. Ben, you and I are roughly the same age and we both grew up in suburban America where we presumably received exposure to the DARE antidrug program in elementary school. Now, say what you want about that program (empirical research found it ineffective or maybe even worse, it increased drug use!)- but the fact is drugs really are, in fact, bad.
Make what you will of the distinction between marijuana and heroin or whatever, drugs are fundamentally mind-altering substances with side effects that can't be fully studied because, inter alia the controlled nature of these substances makes it difficult for researchers to get their hands on them for academic study. And, the rampant lying in self-report data on drug use makes it difficult to perform any retrospective analysis on the effects of drugs.
Ben, I'm 100% confident you, like me, did not use drugs growing up and continue not to partake in drugs whatsoever. I remember when you didn't even drink alcohol, preferring to order Diet Coke with lime on planes.
Drugs aren't something that smart people consume. Even in high finance and banking the drug stereotype is completely overblown, the overwhelming majority of folks do not use drugs. The top private equity principal I know eschews even alcohol and caffeine.
Does this basketball player deserve imprisonment for a victimless crime, of course not, but am I sympathetic? Especially since high profile people usually obtain their drugs through underlings who take the fall for them (another hugely unethical practice but that's another discussion)?
I am 100% unsympathetic
Pretty certain alcohol is far worse for you than most drugs, especially things like ketamine, mushrooms, or even weed. Plenty of smart people do drugs responsibly.
Responsible drug use is abstinence from use, so your statement is what mathematicians would call trivially true. What you’re “pretty certain” of is unfalsifiable (therefore unscientific) because “worse for you” or “better for you” isn’t a measurement along a single dimension. Even assuming arguendo that it were measurable in such a way, the choice of dimension is subjective. Maybe one is better for you mentally but worse for you physically.
Charlie, your body your choice...
Responsible drug use is abstinence from use, so your statement is what mathematicians would call trivially true. What you’re “pretty certain” of is unfalsifiable (therefore unscientific) because “worse for you” or “better for you” isn’t a measurement along a single dimension. Even assuming arguendo that it were measurable in such a way, the choice of dimension is subjective. Maybe one is better for you mentally but worse for you physically.
Charlie, your body your choice and all, but don’t call me or my firm from behind bars. Or ever, for that matter. I don’t accept retarded clients.
Why would someone bother calling the fourth-best law firm in the country, anyway?
I started for a few years at Cravath and then a couple more at Milbank before getting out of Big Law, but when I was there, plenty of the high performing associates and partners were heavy drinkers and/or recreational drug users. Based on people I know who stayed in Big Law and my experience working with these firms as a client, it doesn’t seem much different now including at Skadden.