A Romanian appellate court on Thursday upheld a nine-month prison sentence imposed on rapper Wiz Khalifa, born Cameron Thomaz, for cannabis possession, rejecting his bid to overturn the conviction.
The Constanța Court of Appeal deemed inadmissible Thomaz’s request to annul a December ruling that found him guilty of possessing dangerous drugs for personal use. The court also denied as unfounded his motion to suspend the sentence.
The case stems from a July 2024 incident at the Beach, Please! Festival in Constanța County, where authorities alleged the Grammy-nominated artist smoked cannabis during his performance. Prosecutors said law enforcement later found more than 18 grams of cannabis in his possession.
Romanian Court Rejects Wiz Khalifa’s Appeal Against 9-Month Prison Sentence
Romanian law criminalizes possession of cannabis, including for personal consumption, with penalties ranging from three months to two years’ imprisonment or a criminal fine.
In April 2024, a lower court fined Thomaz 3,600 lei, approximately $830, for illegal possession. Prosecutors appealed that sanction, arguing it was insufficient. In December, the trial court imposed a custodial sentence of nine months, replacing the earlier fine.
Following the incident, Thomaz addressed the matter on social media. “I didn’t mean any disrespect to the country of Romania by lighting up on stage,” he wrote. “They were very respectful and let me go.”
He added that he intended to return to Romania “but without a joint next time.”
It remains unclear whether Romanian authorities will seek extradition. Thomaz is a U.S. citizen and does not reside in Romania. Cross-border enforcement would likely depend on applicable treaties and prosecutorial discretion.
Thomaz, a Pittsburgh native, rose to prominence with his mixtape Kush + Orange Juice and later achieved mainstream success with the single “Black and Yellow.” The appellate ruling leaves his Romanian conviction intact.
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