Rapper Wiz Khalifa Sentenced to Jail Time by Foreign Court

Rapper Wiz Khalifa was stopped by police in Romania after smoking cannabis on stage during a performance at a music festival in 2024. On Thursday, the rapper was sentenced to several months in jail by a Romanian court, who said that its decision was final.

The Constanta Court of Appeal says that Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was found with more than 18 grams of cannabis in his possession, some of which was consumed on stage during the festival.

Romania's national news agency Agerpres says that Khalifa was convicted of “possession of dangerous drugs, without right, for personal consumption,” and that he has been sentenced to nine months in jail.

Prosecutors Sought to Escalate Charge

A lower court in Constanta County issued Khalifa a fine of about $830 USD for “illegal possession of dangerous drugs,” but prosecutors sough more punishment and a higher sentence through an appeal. The appeal was filed after the initial fine was issued in April.

Khalifa performed at the "Beach, Please" festival, a hip-hop and EDM focused concert event held annually on the shores of Romania's Black Sea. The event was first held in 2022, mostly with Romanian artists as headliners.

Foreign artists debuted at the festival the following year, with DaBaby, Central Cee and NLE Choppa making appearances. Khalifa was one of the major international names at the 2024 edition of the festival, joined by Trippie Redd, Don Toliver, Yeat, Ice Spice, Gucci Mane and Rick Ross, among others. Travis Scott also served as the festival headliner that year.

Over 300,000 people attended the 2024 edition of the festival, making it one of the largest urban music festivals throughout the entire continent of Europe. The event will return for 2026, and it will be held from July 8th through the 12th in Costinesti.

Wiz Khalifa Addresses His Arrest

"Last nights show was amazing. I didn’t mean any disrespect to the country of Romania by lighting up on stage," Khalifa said on social media after the show back in 2024.

He was released from custody shortly after being escorted from the stage, as video from the event showed him lighting a hand-rolled cigarette while performing his song "Young, Wild & Free."

"They were very respectful and let me go. I’ll be back soon," Khalifa said. "But without a big ass joint next time."

Khalifa released his most recent studio album "Multiverse" in 2022. His songs "Black & Yellow" and "See You Again" both reached the top of the Billboard charts, and he's had four certified gold studio albums in his career.