Romanian Court Jails Wiz Khalifa for Nine Months Over On-Stage Marijuana Use

Romanian Court Jails Wiz Khalifa for Nine Months Over On-Stage Marijuana Use

An American rapper, Wiz Khalifa, has been sentenced to nine months in prison by a Romanian court over a drug possession case linked to his on-stage performance in the country last year.

The sentence was delivered in absentia after Romanian prosecutors successfully appealed an earlier ruling that had only imposed a fine on the artist. Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was initially arrested in July 2024 after allegedly smoking marijuana on stage during a music festival in Costinești, a popular seaside resort in Romania.

Following his arrest, the rapper was briefly detained before being released. He later issued a public apology, stating that he meant no disrespect to Romanian laws or culture.

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In its first judgment, the Constanța Tribunal fined the rapper 3,000 lei (approximately $690). However, prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) appealed the decision, arguing that the penalty was too lenient.

The appeal was upheld, and the court subsequently convicted Wiz Khalifa of unlawful possession of dangerous drugs for personal use, sentencing him to nine months’ imprisonment. Reports indicate that the ruling is final under Romanian law.

Wiz Khalifa is currently believed to be in the United States, and it remains unclear whether Romanian authorities will seek his extradition. There is no immediate indication that the rapper will serve the prison sentence.

Romania enforces strict anti-drug laws, with cannabis illegal for both recreational and medical use. Under the country’s legal framework, possession of drugs for personal use can attract prison sentences ranging from three months to two years, or a fine, depending on the substance involved.

Romanian Court Jails Wiz Khalifa for Nine Months Over On-Stage Marijuana Use