A Romanian appeals court has sentenced American rapper Wiz Khalifa to nine months in prison after overturning an earlier fine related to his use of cannabis on stage during a music festival performance.
The ruling stems from an incident at the Beach, Please! Festival held in July 2024 in Costinesti, Romania, where the rapper, whose real name is Thomaz Cameron Jibril, admitted to smoking a joint during his live performance.
At the time, Romanian authorities briefly detained and questioned the artiste before releasing him.
Initially, Wiz Khalifa was fined 3,600 Romanian lei (approximately £619 or $829) for possession of drugs for personal use. However, prosecutors appealed the decision, arguing that the fine did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offence, especially given the public nature of the act.
In its written judgment, the Constanța Court of Appeal ruled that the original penalty was insufficient and replaced it with a custodial sentence of nine months. The judges stated that the rapper’s conduct sent “a message of normalisation of illegal conduct” and encouraged drug use among young people.
Describing the incident as an “ostentatious act,” the court noted that Wiz Khalifa was performing on a major festival stage attended largely by young people when he possessed and consumed cannabis in full view of the audience. Romanian investigators reported that he was found with more than 18 grams of cannabis and consumed additional amounts during the performance.
The sentence was delivered in absentia, as Wiz Khalifa is currently in the United States. In recent days, he has been seen performing in California alongside fellow rapper Gunna and sharing content from his home via Twitch and social media platforms.
Following the incident last year, the rapper took to social media to express regret, saying he did not intend to offend Romania or its laws. He praised local authorities for treating him respectfully and joked that he would return to the country “without a big ass joint next time.”
Legal experts, however, believe the likelihood of Wiz Khalifa serving the sentence is extremely low. Romanian criminologist Vlad Zaha told BBC News that extradition from the United States is highly unlikely, citing the rapper’s status, Romania’s limited leverage in extradition matters, and the differing legal treatment of cannabis in the US.
Zaha also described the ruling as “unusually harsh,” suggesting it was meant more as a symbolic statement than a practical enforcement measure.
The case has reignited debate around drug laws, artistic expression, and cultural differences between countries, particularly as global music stars continue to perform in jurisdictions with strict narcotics regulations. While Wiz Khalifa’s prison sentence may never be enforced, the ruling serves as a stark reminder that international performers are subject to local laws, regardless of their global fame.
