A Romanian court has handed down a nine-month prison sentence to American rapper Wiz Khalifa for smoking cannabis on stage. The rapper, born Thomaz Cameron Jibril, admitted to lighting up during his performance at the Beach, Please! festival last year in Costinesti.
Initially, he faced a fine of 3,600 Romanian lei (about £619 or $829) for drug possession. However, an appeals court decided to replace the fine with a prison sentence. This decision raises questions since it’s unclear if Khalifa is even in Romania—he was last spotted performing in California.
After the festival on July 13, 2024, local police briefly detained Khalifa. Authorities charged him with possession of “risk drugs” for personal use, claiming he had over 18 grams of cannabis and consumed more on stage. The judges concluded he was promoting illegal behavior, calling his act “ostentatious” and claiming it could influence young fans.
Khalifa later expressed remorse on social media, noting that he didn’t intend to offend anyone. He remarked that the authorities treated him well and humorously stated he would return to Romania without a “big ass joint” next time.
Romanian criminologist Vlad Zaha commented on the case, pointing out that it’s highly unlikely the U.S. will extradite Khalifa. He described the sentence as “unusually harsh,” considering Khalifa’s wealth and influence. Given the legal landscape of cannabis in the U.S., where some states have legalized its use while it remains illegal federally, Zaha thinks there will be resistance to enforcing this sentence abroad.
Interestingly, Khalifa is known for promoting cannabis culture and launched his own marijuana brand in 2016. This incident reflects ongoing debates over cannabis legality and its societal implications, especially in the context of youth influence.
While the legal consequences for drug use vary significantly across countries, the conversation about cannabis remains relevant. A recent survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that about 30% of U.S. teenagers perceived cannabis as safe, demonstrating a shifting perception that could have far-reaching effects on future policy and culture.
As discussions continue, it’s clear that incidents like Khalifa’s can spark larger conversations about drug use, celebrity influence, and legal standards.
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