Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced to nine months in prison in Romania following a drug possession conviction stemming from his arrest while performing in the country last year. The ruling was issued on Thursday by the Constanța Court of Appeal, more than a year after the US rapper was detained during a live performance at a major music festival.
The decision overturns an earlier, more lenient sentence and is final. Khalifa, 38, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was headlining the Beach, Please! festival in Costinești in July 2024, when Romanian authorities intervened. Prosecutors alleged that the artist possessed more than 18 grams of cannabis and consumed some of it on stage during his set, an act that drew widespread attention both locally and internationally.
According to the Associated Press, the court found Khalifa guilty of possessing “dangerous drugs, without right, for personal consumption.” While cannabis laws vary widely around the world, Romania maintains strict regulations, with possession and use remaining criminal offenses.
In April 2025, a lower court fined Khalifa 3,600 lei, roughly $830, a penalty that many viewed as symbolic given the performer’s global profile. Romanian prosecutors appealed that ruling, arguing that the punishment did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offense or its public nature. The appeals court agreed and imposed the nine-month prison sentence.
USA Today reported, In their written decision, judges said the sentence was intended to send a clear message, describing Khalifa’s actions as “showy” and socially harmful. The court added that his behavior could encourage illegal drug use, particularly among young people who might view such conduct as acceptable when carried out by high-profile public figures.
Following his arrest last year, Khalifa issued a public apology on X, acknowledging that he had smoked marijuana on stage and stating that he meant no disrespect to Romania or its laws. At the time, the rapper emphasized that the incident was not intended to provoke or offend.
It remains uncertain how the sentence will be enforced. Khalifa is a US citizen and does not reside in Romania, and Romanian authorities have not indicated whether they will seek his extradition. Legal experts note that extradition in such cases can be complex and often depends on diplomatic considerations as well as the laws of the individual’s home country.
For now, the ruling stands as a high-profile reminder of Romania’s strict stance on drug offenses, even when they involve international celebrities.
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