American rapper Wiz Khalifa is facing the possibility of a nine-month prison sentence in Romania after the country’s judiciary toughened its stance on a marijuana-related offence stemming from his appearance at a music festival last year.
On Thursday, the Constanța Court of Appeal upheld an appeal filed by Romania’s anti-organised crime prosecutors, the DIICOT Constanța Territorial Service, overturning an earlier, more lenient punishment. Wiz Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Thomaz, had initially been fined 3,000 lei—about $700—for the offence. The appellate court, however, ruled in favour of prosecutors seeking a custodial sentence, handing down a nine-month jail term.
The case dates back to July 2024, when the “Young, Wild & Free” hitmaker was arrested and briefly detained after his performance at Costinești’s Beach Please! Festival, a popular seaside music event. During his set, Wiz was seen lighting up and smoking what authorities identified as a marijuana joint while dancing on stage to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “The Next Episode,” an act that quickly drew the attention of local law enforcement.
Romania enforces some of the strictest drug laws in Europe, with little tolerance for the possession or public use of cannabis, regardless of an offender’s celebrity status. Prosecutors argued that the public nature of the act and the influence of a high-profile performer warranted a harsher penalty than a fine.
Sources close to the rapper say the sentence is not yet final, as his legal team is preparing to challenge the ruling through further appeals. They are reportedly exploring alternative legal options that could prevent Wiz from serving time behind bars, including a possible suspension of the sentence or other non-custodial measures permitted under Romanian law.
For now, the case underscores the legal risks international artists can face when performing abroad, particularly in countries with zero-tolerance drug policies. As Wiz Khalifa’s legal team mounts its next challenge, the outcome could set a notable precedent for how Romania handles similar cases involving foreign entertainers.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Wiz Khalifa now faces a possible nine-month prison sentence in Romania after an appellate court overturned an earlier fine, underscoring the country’s strict drug laws and the serious legal consequences performers can face for violating them, even during a public show.
