A Romanian appellate court has delivered a custodial sentence against American rapper Wiz Khalifa for cannabis consumption during a live performance, overturning an earlier financial penalty. The artist, legally named Thomaz Cameron Jibril, acknowledged smoking a marijuana joint while performing at the Beach, Please! festival in Costinesti during July 2024.
The Constanța Court of Appeal justified its decision to replace the initial 3,600 lei (approximately $829) fine with a nine-month prison term by citing the performer’s influential status. Judicial authorities characterized his actions as an “ostentatious act” that promoted drug normalization among youth audiences. Court documents specified that Jibril possessed over 18 grams of cannabis and consumed additional quantities during his performance before a predominantly young audience.
Despite the conviction, the rapper was sentenced in absentia and his current whereabouts remain uncertain. Following his recent appearance with collaborator Gunna in California, legal experts indicate minimal likelihood of actual imprisonment. Romanian criminologist Vlad Zaha noted the extreme improbability of extradition from the United States, citing jurisdictional limitations and contrasting cannabis policies between the nations.
In response to the incident, Jibril previously expressed on social media platform X that no offense toward Romania was intended, humorously noting future visits would occur “without a big ass joint.” The Grammy-nominated artist, renowned for cannabis-themed branding and lyrical content, established his own marijuana brand in 2016. While recreational cannabis enjoys legal status in numerous American states, it remains prohibited under federal law and within Romanian jurisdiction.