Bucharest, Romania – American rapper Wiz Khalifa was sentenced in absentia to nine months in prison by a Romanian court. The sentence stemmed from his public use of marijuana (cannabis) during a concert last year.
The case dates back to July 2024, when Khalifa, whose real name is Tomas Cameron Jibril, was charged with illegal drug possession. He lit a joint while performing on stage at the Peach, Blaze! music festival, held in the Black Sea resort of Costinciti, Romania, according to AFP.
The artist was released shortly after the incident. He was also fined 3,600 Romanian lei (approximately $829), according to the BBC. However, the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) later appealed the ruling.
The directorate said in a statement carried by AFP that investigations proved that “during a performance at a music festival held in the resort of Costencietti, the accused was in possession of more than 18 grams of cannabis. He also consumed another quantity on stage in the form of a homemade cigarette.”
Following the incident, Wiz Khalifa, a ten-time Grammy nominee, issued an apology via his X platform account. He emphasized that there was no ill intent behind his actions, writing: “I meant no disrespect to Romania by lighting marijuana on stage. They were very respectful and allowed me to leave.”
However, the Constanta Court of Appeal overturned the fine and replaced it with a prison sentence. The court ruled that the artist’s actions “normalized illegal behavior” and contributed to encouraging drug use among young people, according to the BBC and Rolling Stone magazine.
The judges described the act as a “showmanship act,” noting that the defendant was “a stage performer at a festival popular with young people.” He had “possessed and consumed a homemade marijuana cigarette in front of a large audience, mostly composed of very young people.”
It remains unclear whether Romanian authorities will seek Wiz Khalifa’s extradition from the United States. The artist appeared on a live stream on Twitch on Wednesday, spending over two hours engaging in his usual activities and smoking marijuana.
It is worth noting that cannabis remains illegal in Romania for both medical and recreational use. In contrast, despite its legalization in several US states, marijuana remains prohibited under federal law. Yesterday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order reclassifying cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. This is considered the most significant move in US drug policy in decades. It also aims to facilitate scientific research and expand its medical uses.
