Summary (tl;dr)

American rapper Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced to nine months in prison in Romania for drug possession, an escalation from an earlier fine, after smoking cannabis on stage during a 2024 music festival.

Essential Background

In July 2024, Wiz Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, performed at the Beach, Please! Festival in Costinești, Romania, where he was seen smoking what appeared to be a joint onstage. Local authorities briefly detained and questioned him after the performance, finding him in possession of over 18 grams of cannabis. Romania has strict drug laws, with possession for personal use potentially leading to prison sentences. Following the incident, Khalifa apologized on social media, stating he meant no disrespect to Romania. He was initially issued a fine of approximately $700 (3,600 Romanian lei) by a lower court in April 2025.

The Full Story

On Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Constanța Court of Appeal in Romania overturned the initial fine and sentenced Wiz Khalifa to nine months in prison for unlawful possession of dangerous drugs for personal use. The court's decision, which is final, cited that the initial fine was insufficient and that Khalifa's actions, as an international artist with influence over young people, sent a message normalizing illegal conduct and encouraging drug use. Prosecutors had appealed the earlier lenient ruling, seeking a harsher penalty. As Khalifa is a U.S. citizen and does not reside in Romania, Constanța County Police have announced that procedures are underway to issue a national search and an international arrest warrant. It remains unclear if Romanian authorities will seek an extradition request from the United States.

Why It Matters

This ruling highlights the stringent nature of drug laws in Romania, which are notably harsher compared to many other European countries, and demonstrates that celebrity status does not exempt individuals from these legal consequences. The case has drawn international attention, raising questions about the enforcement of such sentences across borders and the potential for an international arrest warrant and extradition proceedings. The court's emphasis on Khalifa's influence on young people also underscores a broader societal concern regarding public figures and their perceived impact on norms surrounding drug use.

Geographic Location

• Costinești, Constanța County, Romania (onstage cannabis consumption and initial arrest at Beach, Please! Festival in July 2024)
• Constanța, Constanța County, Romania (Constanța Court of Appeal issued the nine-month prison sentence on December 18, 2025, and initiated procedures for an international arrest warrant)