Wiz Khalifa Sentenced to 9 Months in Prison in Romania for Drug Charges

Wiz Khalifa's legal case stemmed from his performance at the "Beach, Please!" music festival in July 2024 in Costinești, Romania.

The rapper was seen smoking a joint on stage while dancing to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's "The Next Episode."

This behavior caught the attention of authorities, who subsequently made an arrest.

Wiz Khalifa was charged with possession of dangerous drugs, with evidence including 18.53 grams of marijuana and a marijuana-infused cigarette.

A lower court in Constanța County initially fined Wiz Khalifa 3,000 Romanian lei (approximately $700-$830 USD) in April 2025 for drug possession.

However, the public prosecutor appealed this decision, demanding a harsher sentence, given Romania's strict drug laws.

The Constanța Court of Appeal upheld the prosecutor's appeal and overturned the initial fine, replacing it with a nine-month prison sentence.

The judge at the Constanța Court of Appeal ruled that the initial fine was insufficient, arguing that Wiz Khalifa's actions "sent a message of normalizing illegal behavior" and encouraging "drug use among young people."

The court noted that Khalifa was "a musical performer, on the stage of a music festival popular among young people," and that he "possessed and consumed, in front of a large audience composed mainly of young people, a handmade cigarette."

The sentence was handed down in absentia, meaning Wiz Khalifa was not present at the hearing, and it is unclear whether he is currently in Romania.

Following the July 2024 arrest, Wiz Khalifa issued an apology via X (formerly Twitter).

He stated that he meant no disrespect to Romania and acknowledged that the authorities had shown him great respect.

Sources close to the rapper indicated that his team is "currently in the process of appealing the sentence," although the appeals court's decision was declared final.

Given that Wiz Khalifa is a US citizen and does not reside in Romania, questions about his extradition have arisen.

Romanian criminologist Vlad Zaha told BBC News there was almost no chance the US would extradite Jibril, and described the sentence as "unusually harsh".

"Given the defendant's wealth and connections, Romania's lack of real negotiating power on extradition, and the legal and political status of cannabis in the US, it is highly unlikely that Wiz Khalifa will be sent to serve a prison sentence in Constanța, even though a formal judicial request will be submitted to the United States," Mr Zaha said.

Romanian law criminalizes possession of marijuana for personal use, with penalties ranging from three months to two years in prison or a fine.

This makes Romania one of the European countries with the strictest drug regulations.

The case involving Wiz Khalifa highlights the stark differences in drug laws between countries.

Severe legal consequences can befall foreign nationals who may be unfamiliar with local regulations.

The Romanian government, through its courts, has emphasized the importance of law enforcement, especially in cases involving public figures who could impact the wider community.