A Romanian appeals court has sentenced US rapper Wiz Khalifa to nine months in prison after ruling that his on-stage cannabis use at a music festival constituted a serious offence that went beyond simple possession.
The artist, whose real name is Thomaz Cameron Jibril, admitted to smoking a joint during his performance at the Beach, Please! festival in Costinești in July 2024.
The Constanța Court of Appeal overturned an earlier penalty that had imposed a fine of 3,600 Romanian lei (€730 approx.), replacing it with a custodial sentence to be served in prison.
Sentenced in absentia
The ruling was delivered in absentia, as the rapper was not present in Romania at the time of the decision.
In recent days, Wiz Khalifa has continued with his professional commitments in the United States, appearing on stage alongside Gunna in California and sharing content from his home via Twitch and social media platforms.
Court cites influence on young audiences
In its written decision, the appeals court justified the harsher sentence by pointing to the public nature of the act and the profile of the audience in attendance.
Judges argued that the original fine failed to reflect the broader social impact of the incident.
According to the court, the performance:
- Took place at a festival widely attended by young people
- Involved the public consumption of an illegal substance
- Sent what judges described as a “message of normalisation of illegal conduct”
Risked encouraging drug use among minors and young adults
The ruling described the incident as an “ostentatious act” carried out by a high-profile performer in front of a predominantly youthful crowd.
Details of the incident
Romanian authorities briefly detained and questioned Jibril following the concert on 13 July 2024.
Prosecutors later charged him with possession of “risk drugs” for personal use, stating that he was carrying more than 18 grams of cannabis and consumed an additional quantity during the performance.
Artist responds
A day after the incident, Wiz Khalifa addressed the situation in a post on X, stressing that he had no intention of offending the country or its laws.
He also acknowledged the conduct of local authorities, saying they treated him with respect before releasing him.
“I’ll be back soon,” he wrote at the time, adding wryly that his next visit would come “without a big ass joint.”