Wiz Khalifa Handed Nine-Month Prison Sentence In Romania Over Onstage Cannabis Use

The incident reportedly occurred at the ‘Beach, Please! Festival’ held in Costinesti last year, where the artist was seen using cannabis on stage in front of a large audience. Following the event, Romanian authorities briefly detained and questioned him on July 13, 2024.

A Romanian appeals court later overturned an earlier fine of 3,600 lei and ruled that the rapper must serve a custodial sentence. The judgment was delivered in absentia, as Wiz Khalifa has since been spotted performing in California alongside fellow rapper Gunna and sharing updates from his home via social media and streaming platforms.

Prosecutors charged the musician with possession of drugs for personal use, alleging that he had more than 18 grams of cannabis and consumed part of it during his stage performance. The court described the act as a public display of illegal behaviour, stressing that it took place before a predominantly young audience.

Romanian officials noted that such conduct could encourage drug use among youths and described the action as deliberate and attention-seeking. Speaking on the matter, Romanian criminologist Vlad Zaha reportedly described the prison sentence as extremely severe, adding that there is little to no chance of the United States approving an extradition request.

Zaha cited several reasons why extradition is unlikely, including the rapper’s financial influence, strong legal and political ties, Romania’s limited leverage in extradition negotiations, and the differing legal status of cannabis across parts of the United States.

While Romanian authorities are expected to submit a formal extradition request, experts believe it will likely be rejected. Wiz Khalifa, who is based in the US, is widely known for chart-topping hits and has been outspoken about cannabis use, including launching his own marijuana brand in 2016.