Wiz Khalifa Receives Nine-Month Jail Sentence in Romania
A Romanian court has sentenced renowned rapper Wiz Khalifa to nine months in prison. The decision stems from an incident where he was seen smoking cannabis during a live performance.
Incident Overview
Wiz Khalifa, whose real name is Thomaz Cameron Jibril, admitted to smoking a joint at the Beach, Please! festival in Costinesti last year. This event took place on July 13, 2024, and subsequently led to legal action against him.
Legal Proceedings
- Originally fined 3,600 Romanian lei (approximately $829) for drug possession.
- Romanian appeals court overturned the fine and imposed a nine-month prison sentence.
The court ruled that Khalifa’s actions “normalized illegal conduct” and encouraged drug use among youth. Romanian judges described his act on stage as particularly irresponsible, given the young audience present.
Artist’s Response
In a social media post following the incident, Khalifa expressed no intention to offend Romanian authorities. He mentioned he would return to Romania for future performances but promised to avoid similar actions.
Potential Extradition
Romanian criminologist Vlad Zaha provided insight into Khalifa’s extradition. He indicated that it’s highly unlikely the United States will extradite the artist to serve his sentence in Romania. Factors include Khalifa’s wealth, connections, and the complex legal status surrounding cannabis.
About Wiz Khalifa
The artist is widely recognized for hits like “Black and Yellow,” “See You Again,” and “Young, Wild & Free.” He is also known for his fondness for cannabis, having launched his own marijuana brand in 2016. While cannabis is legal in various states in the U.S. for recreational and medical use, it remains illegal under federal law.
