Wiz Khalifa Sentenced to Nine Months in Romanian Prison for Smoking Cannabis on Stage
American rapper Wiz Khalifa, whose real name is Thomaz Cameron Jibril, has been sentenced to nine months in prison by a Romanian court for smoking cannabis on stage during a concert last year. The sentence was handed down after Jibril admitted to smoking a joint during his performance at the Beach, Please! festival in Costinesti, Romania.
The rapper was initially fined 3,600 Romanian lei (approximately $829) for drug possession, but the appeal court overturned the fine and ruled that Jibril must serve the sentence in custody. However, the sentence was issued in absentia, as Jibril was not present in court.
Jibril’s actions during the concert were deemed an “ostentatious act” by the court, which stated that the rapper sent a message of normalizing illegal conduct and encouraged drug use among young people. The court also noted that Jibril was a well-known music performer at a festival attended by a predominantly young audience.
The sentence has been met with criticism from some, including Romanian criminologist Vlad Zaha, who described it as “unusually harsh.” Zaha also stated that it is unlikely that the US will extradite Jibril to serve the sentence, citing the rapper’s wealth and connections, as well as the legal and political status of cannabis in the US.
Jibril has been open about his use of cannabis, often posting pictures of himself smoking on social media and founding his own marijuana brand in 2016. While cannabis is legal for recreational and medical use in some US states, it remains illegal under federal law.
The BBC has reached out to Jibril for comment, but has not received a response.
