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American rapper Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced to nine months in a Romanian prison following a highly publicized incident involving marijuana use during a music festival. On Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Constanța Court of Appeal delivered the verdict, significantly escalating the legal consequences for the 38-year-old artist. The ruling overturned a previous, more lenient penalty, sparking international conversation about Romania’s stringent drug laws and their application to high-profile figures.
The legal battle stems from Khalifa’s performance at the “Beach, Please!” Festival in the coastal resort of Costinești in July 2024. During his set, the rapper, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was seen lighting and smoking a large, hand-rolled marijuana joint while performing his hit “Young, Wild & Free.” Following the performance, Romanian authorities intervened, taking Khalifa into custody. Prosecutors revealed that he was found in possession of more than 18 grams of cannabis, leading to charges of “possession of dangerous drugs, without right, for personal consumption.”
Initially, a lower court in Constanța County had issued a criminal fine of 3,600 lei (approximately $830) in April 2025. However, Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) appealed this decision, arguing for a custodial sentence. The appeals court ultimately agreed, stating that Khalifa’s public consumption was an “ostentatious act” that sent a “message of normalization of illegal conduct” to his young audience. They emphasized that his status as an international artist amplified the “social danger” of the offense.
While the court described the nine-month sentence as “final and enforceable,” reports from sources close to the rapper suggest his legal team is exploring all available avenues to challenge the ruling. Despite the finality of the appellate decision under Romanian law, Khalifa remains in the United States, having recently appeared at a
concert in Los Angeles. It remains highly uncertain whether Romanian officials will pursue an international arrest warrant or attempt to extradite the U.S. citizen. At the time of the original incident, Khalifa issued a respectful apology on social media, clarifying that he meant no disrespect to the country but has yet to publicly comment on this latest sentencing development.
