Stephen Musungu
American rapper Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced to nine months in prison in Romania after being found guilty of drug possession following an on-stage incident at the Beach, Please! music festival in July 2024. The court ruled that the rapper, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, violated Romanian drug laws after allegedly smoking cannabis during his performance and later being found in possession of more than 18 grams of the substance.
The ruling came after prosecutors appealed an earlier decision that had only fined the rapper, arguing that the public nature of the act warranted a harsher penalty. Judges agreed, stating that Khalifa’s actions amounted to “ostentatious conduct” and could encourage illegal behavior among the public, particularly young fans. Cannabis remains illegal in Romania, and public consumption can attract severe penalties regardless of an individual’s celebrity status.Wiz Khalifa is currently believed to be in the United States, and it remains unclear whether Romanian authorities will pursue international enforcement of the sentence.
While extradition is considered unlikely, legal experts warn that the conviction could affect the rapper’s ability to travel internationally in the future. The case has reignited debate online about differing global drug laws and the responsibility of artists to respect local regulations when performing abroad.
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