On Saturday, Oct. 10, leaders from across the cannabis industry will trade grow rooms and boardrooms for the fairways of Las Vegas Country Club. Golf is the occasion. Justice is the cause.
The Las Vegas Vlasic Classic, presented by GrowGeneration, will raise funds for The Forgotten Prisoner, Freedom Grow and the family of a man the industry has rallied behind: former pro basketball player Jarred Shaw, now serving 26 months in an Indonesian prison over cannabis gummies.
Shaw, a former NCAA standout, ordered a small amount of the gummies to manage Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition he was diagnosed with in 2010 and has long treated with cannabis. He was playing in the Indonesian Basketball League when he was arrested in May 2025. According to organizers, he did not know how severe the country’s drug laws are. He first faced trafficking charges carrying a possible death sentence, but was convicted of a lesser possession charge and sentenced to 26 months. Cannabis Now covered his case in June, ahead of the Michigan Vlasic Classic.
His supporters say his health is getting worse behind bars. Prison conditions and limited access to proper nutrition and his doctors have worsened his Crohn’s symptoms, and he has lost more than 30 pounds.
“Every day, I’m thinking about getting home to my family and getting my health back,” Shaw said in a statement. “Being separated from the people I love while dealing with Crohn’s in these conditions has been incredibly difficult. Knowing that people in the U.S. are telling my story, supporting my family and continuing to fight for me means more than I can put into words.”
A Tournament With a Mission
The Las Vegas Vlasic Classic is hosted by Michigan-based Vlasic Labs, the hemp wellness company founded by the family behind the iconic pickle brand.
“This is our second year bringing the Vlasic Classic to Las Vegas, and we think it will be our best one yet,” said Willy Vlasic, CEO of Vlasic Labs. “This wouldn’t be possible without the immense help from our sponsors. This year’s event is presented by GrowGeneration, and their support has been instrumental.”
Vlasic said the turnout grows every year, and so does the sense of purpose. “Every year more people from across the cannabis industry come out, and you can feel how much they care about why we’re there. This year that’s Jarred Shaw,” he said. “We’ve been telling his story since he was sentenced, and I can’t wait to spend the day at Las Vegas Country Club with people who want to help get him home.”
The day is built to balance competition with purpose, starting with a noon shotgun start on the club’s 18-hole course and closing with an Awards Gala.
“We’ll have some fun on the course, but by the end of the night I want his family to know just how many people are in their corner,” Vlasic said. “They say it takes a village, and we are so proud of our community for supporting the fight against unjust cannabis regulations and incarceration.”
The Forgotten Prisoner is a justice reform initiative that raises awareness of excessive sentencing and supports impacted families. Its founder, Donte West, is also Shaw’s legal advocate.
“Jarred’s story is a reminder that the consequences of cannabis prohibition don’t end when someone is sentenced,” West said. “They reach their families, their health and their lives long after the courtroom. What has meant so much to me is seeing people continue to show up for Jarred and his family. The Vlasic Classic is helping turn that support into something tangible and is playing a significant role helping to get Jarred home.”
An Industry Showing Up
GrowGeneration, the publicly traded hydroponics and cultivation supply retailer (NASDAQ: GRWG), says the event fits a responsibility the legal industry owes to people still paying for prohibition.
“GrowGeneration is proud to stand alongside Willy Vlasic and the cannabis community in supporting the Las Vegas Vlasic Classic and its important mission,” said Michael Salaman, president and co-founder of GrowGeneration. “Jarred Shaw’s story is a powerful reminder of why our industry must continue to stand together. No one should have to endure separation from their family and imprisonment over cannabis used to manage a medical condition.”
For Salaman, the company’s support is also about the legal market owning up to the people it left behind.
“As an industry that has benefited from the progress of cannabis legalization, we have a responsibility to support those who continue to suffer from its criminalization,” he said. “This event is about much more than golf—it’s about compassion, justice and bringing Jarred home to his family. We’re honored to support this cause and look forward to making an even greater impact together in 2027 and beyond.”
Matrix, Deep Roots and Rhythm are also supporting this year’s tournament.
Beyond the Fairway
The fundraising is only part of the effort. Vlasic Labs is amplifying Shaw’s story nationwide by encouraging Americans to respectfully contact U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Peter Haymond. The ask: diplomatic engagement and humanitarian consideration to bring Shaw back to the United States as soon as possible.
“The cannabis industry has spent years fighting for people who are still serving sentences because of cannabis, and Jarred’s story is a reminder that this work extends far beyond our own borders,” Vlasic said. “We want this year’s Las Vegas Vlasic Classic to do more than raise money. We want to make sure Jarred and his family know that people are standing with them, while using our platform to keep his story in front of the people who can help bring him home.”
The tournament series has a track record. The 2025 Vlasic Classic tournaments raised $65,000, including $29,250 for Freedom Grow, $16,250 for the Last Prisoner Project, $5,000 for Project Mission Green and $1,300 in direct educational support for Deshaun Durham after his release. Across its Missouri, Michigan and Las Vegas events, the series has raised more than $165,000 for second-chance initiatives.
For an industry built on a plant that can still cost someone their freedom, Saturday is a reminder that legalization did not finish the job. For Jarred Shaw, the work continues until he is home.
The post Vlasic Classic to Tee Off in Vegas for Jarred Shaw appeared first on Cannabis Now.
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