Wiz Khalifa Sentenced To 9 Months In Romanian Prison For Drug Possession

Rap superstar Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced to nine months in prison in Romania, following a reversal by an appellate court that rejected an earlier, more lenient ruling.

According to court records cited by Romanian outlet Cancan, the Constanța Court of Appeal overturned a lower court decision that had allowed the 38-year-old Pittsburgh native, born Cameron Thomaz, to avoid jail time by paying a fine. Instead, the appellate judges ruled that incarceration was required under Romanian law.

The appeal was filed by Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), through its Constanța Territorial Service. The court partially reversed a ruling from the Constanța Tribunal, which had imposed a criminal fine of 3,000 Romanian lei. On appeal, judges determined that a custodial sentence was “warranted,” escalating the case significantly.

According to ABC Audio, court documents show Khalifa was convicted under Law No. 143/2000, which governs drug-related offenses in Romania. The statute classifies the offense as unlawful possession of dangerous drugs for personal use. The appellate ruling is final and binding, leaving no further avenues for appeal under Romania’s criminal procedure rules.

The case dates back to 2024, when Khalifa was briefly detained during legal proceedings before being released without remand. Romanian authorities emphasized at the time that the case did not involve drug trafficking. Prosecutors framed the charge strictly as possession for personal use, an offense punishable by three months to two years in prison or a fine.

That distinction did not sway the appellate court. By rejecting the fine-only sentence, judges made clear that celebrity status does not factor into enforcement of Romania’s drug laws. Under Law No. 143/2000, possession remains a criminal offense, even as other countries move in a different direction.

The ruling has reignited debate over Romania’s strict approach, particularly when compared to countries such as Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, where small-quantity possession has been decriminalized or handled administratively. In parts of the United States, similar conduct has been legalized or reduced to civil violations.

Romania, however, continues to enforce tougher penalties. The appellate court’s decision sends an unmistakable message: once convicted, leniency is not guaranteed.

For Khalifa, whose public persona has long been associated with marijuana culture, the sentence underscores a hard reality of international law. Global fame and touring success do not override local statutes—and in this case, the consequences are severe.