AMERICAN rapper Wiz Khalifa has reportedly received a nine-month prison sentence after being accused of smoking cannabis on stage during a performance in Rome, Italy.
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The ruling has caused a lot of discussion online, especially among fans who were taken aback by how severe the sentence was and how strictly some European countries enforce their drug laws.
According to reports, the incident happened while the award-winning artist was performing in front of a big crowd in the Italian capital.
Video clips that are going around on social media appear to show the rapper lighting up and smoking what the authorities later confirmed was cannabis while still on stage.
Law enforcement officials reportedly noticed the act, which led to an investigation and eventually legal charges against the musician.
Italy has stricter drug laws compared to some parts of the United States, where cannabis is legal for recreational or medical use in several states.
In Italy, possessing and using cannabis in public can result in criminal charges, especially when it happens in highly visible places. Prosecutors reportedly argued that smoking cannabis on stage encouraged illegal drug use, particularly among young and impressionable audiences.
The court is said to have taken into account the public nature of the act when handing down the nine-month prison sentence, stressing that being a celebrity does not mean someone is above the law.
Although the sentence has been confirmed, it is still unclear whether Wiz Khalifa will actually go to jail.
Legal experts suggest there could be appeals or other possible penalties, like fines or a suspended sentence, depending on how the legal process unfolds.
Wiz Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, has long been connected with cannabis culture.
He frequently mentions it in his music and interviews, which has become a major part of his public image and brand. This case has become especially symbolic in the ongoing global debate about drug laws, cultural differences, and artistic freedom.