Wiz Khalifa Sentenced to Nine Months in Romanian Jail Over On-Stage Cannabis Use

Bucharest, Romania — American rapper Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced to nine months in jail by a Romanian court for drug possession after he allegedly smoked cannabis onstage during a music festival in the country last year. The ruling, handed down on December 18, 2025, by the Constanța Court of Appeal, comes more than a year after the 38-year-old artist, born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, performed at the Beach, Please! festival in Costinești, a Black Sea coastal resort in Romania. Romanian prosecutors said Khalifa was found in possession of more than 18 grams of cannabis and had consumed some of it during his performance. 

From Fine to Prison Sentence

Initially, a lower court in Constanța County fined Khalifa 3,600 Romanian lei (around $830) in April 2025 for illegal drug possession. However, prosecutors appealed that decision, seeking a stiffer penalty. The Constanța Court of Appeal overturned the fine and imposed the nine-month custodial sentence, which is now final. Romania InsiderRomania’s drugs laws are considered among the strictest in Europe. Even personal use and possession of cannabis are criminalized, with penalties ranging from fines to prison terms of up to two years. The appeal court emphasized that Khalifa’s public consumption of cannabis, particularly in front of a largely young audience, sent a harmful message by normalizing illegal behavior. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

Legal and Diplomatic Questions Ahead

It remains unclear whether Romanian authorities will pursue an extradition request to bring Khalifa to Romania to serve the sentence, especially given that he is a U.S. citizen and does not reside in the country. Romanian police have reportedly placed him under a national search notice, and coordination with international law enforcement has been mentioned, but no formal extradition has yet been confirmed. Romania InsiderIn response to the original incident in 2024, Khalifa took to social media, saying he did not intend to disrespect Romania and that he was treated respectfully by authorities at the time. www.ndtv.com

Career Context

Wiz Khalifa rose to fame with his acclaimed mixtape Kush + Orange Juice and mainstream hits such as “Young, Wild & Free.” He has been open about his cannabis use throughout his career, a recurring theme both in his music and public persona.