In a surprising turn of events, rapper Wiz Khalifa has been handed a nine-month prison sentence in Romania after he was caught smoking a joint during a live performance at a festival. The artist, whose real name is Thomas Cameron Jibril, openly admitted to using the marijuana-filled joint in front of a large audience.
During the Beach, Please! festival held in July of last year, Romanian authorities discovered Khalifa in possession of over 18 grams of cannabis, leading to legal charges for drug possession. Initially, he was fined $829 (£619) for the offense; however, Romanian prosecutors contested this ruling, resulting in an appeal that overturned the fine and imposed a prison sentence instead.
The judges at Constanța Court of Appeal cited Khalifa’s actions as an “ostentatious act,” emphasizing that his behavior could be seen as endorsing drug use among a predominantly young audience. They expressed concerns that he was sending a harmful message regarding the normalization of illegal activities.
This recent ruling is final under Romanian law. Despite being sentenced in absentia, Khalifa continued his performances, most recently sharing the stage with fellow rapper Gunna in California earlier this week. Experts suggest that the likelihood of his extradition to Romania is low, given his substantial resources and the complexities surrounding international legal negotiations. Notably, Romanian authorities have reportedly submitted a formal judicial request to the U.S. concerning the case.
While cannabis is legal for recreational and medical use in several U.S. states, it remains strictly prohibited in Romania. The country maintains stringent laws regarding the substance, which applies to both recreational and medicinal use. Physicians in Romania cannot prescribe cannabis, though patients with valid prescriptions from other EU countries may enter with appropriate documentation.
Khalifa, recognized for hits like “Black and Yellow,” “See You Again,” and “Young, Wild & Free,” has a well-documented history of cannabis use and even launched his own marijuana brand in 2016. Despite the recent legal challenges, he has yet to publicly address the court’s decision.
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