Los Angeles (US): American rapper Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced to nine months in prison by a Romanian court in connection with a drug possession case dating back to July 2024, according to People magazine.
The sentence was pronounced by the Constanta Court of Appeal, more than a year after the Grammy-nominated artist, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was arrested in Romania for illegal possession of cannabis. The court found Khalifa guilty of possessing dangerous drugs without legal authorisation for personal use.
The case stems from an incident at the ‘Beach, Please!’ music festival in Costinesti, where Khalifa allegedly had over 18 grams of cannabis in his possession and consumed the substance on stage during his performance. Romanian authorities detained the rapper shortly after the show.
Following the incident, Khalifa had addressed the controversy in a post on X, expressing regret and stating that he did not intend to disrespect Romania by smoking marijuana on stage. He also noted that authorities had treated him respectfully and allowed him to leave the country.
In its ruling, the appellate court said the prison sentence was intended to set a deterrent example, noting that Khalifa’s public profile and actions significantly heightened the seriousness of the offence. The court observed that his conduct conveyed a message that could normalise illegal drug use and potentially encourage such behaviour among young people.
Earlier, in April 2025, a lower court in Constanta County had imposed a criminal fine of approximately USD 830 on the rapper for illegal drug possession. However, Romanian prosecutors challenged the leniency of that ruling and sought a stricter punishment, leading to the appeal court’s decision to impose a custodial sentence.
Given that Wiz Khalifa is a United States citizen, it remains unclear whether Romanian authorities will pursue extradition or how the sentence will be enforced.
