An appellate court flipped a decrease courtroom’s earlier name that had let the 38-year-old Pittsburgh native stroll away with a advantageous, in line with courtroom data cited by native outlet Cancan.

The Constanța Court of Appeal upheld an attraction filed by Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, or DIICOT, via its Constanța Territorial Service, partially overturning a ruling issued by the Constanța Tribunal. That earlier choice imposed a prison advantageous of three,000 Romanian lei. On attraction, judges dominated {that a} custodial sentence was “warranted under Romanian law,” sending the case into a lot harser territory.

Court minutes cited by Cancan present Khalifa was convicted beneath Law No. 143/2000 for what the statute defines as “unlawful possession of dangerous drugs for personal use.” The appellate ruling is remaining and binding, closing the door on additional challenges beneath Romania’s prison process guidelines.

Wiz Khalifa Sentenced To 9 Months In Prison In Romania

The case dates again to 2024. The “Black and Yellow” hitmaker was briefly detained throughout authorized proceedings and later launched with out being remanded into custody. Romanian authorities had been fast to attract a line across the costs, stressing that the case didn’t contain drug trafficking. Instead, prosecutors framed it squarely as possession for private use — an offense that carries a statutory penalty starting from three months to 2 years in jail or a advantageous.

That distinction mattered little on attraction. By rejecting the fine-only sentence, the appellate courtroom signaled that movie star standing gives no protect in Romania’s drug legal guidelines.. Under Law No. 143/2000, possession offenses stay firmly criminalized, whilst different jurisdictions rethink comparable conduct.

Khalifa’s sentencing has reignited debate round Romania’s hardline method, particularly when stacked towards shifts elsewhere. Countries similar to Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands have moved towards decriminalization or administrative penalties for small-quantity possession. In components of the United States, comparable conduct has been diminished to civil infractions or legalized outright.

Romania, nonetheless, continues to implement harder sanctions, and the courtroom’s ruling makes that stance unmistakable. As the appellate panel made clear by reinstating jail time, the legislation leaves no leniency as soon as a conviction is entered. Wiz’s public picture has lengthy been intertwined with marijuana tradition.

For Wiz Khalifa, the choice lands as a stark reminder that worldwide excursions and international branding don’t change native legislation.