Wiz Khalifa
Rapper Wiz Khalifa knows how to make a statement. On the last day of the Pirates 2017 home season at PNC Park (September 20), he was invited to throw out the first pitch of the game against the Orioles.
Wearing a "Legalize It" t-shirt and a yellow cap, upon being announced and standing on the mound, Khalifa lifted his right hand to his mouth and did a fake toke for all to see. He tossed an errant pitch and then controversy ensued.
Major League Baseball responded with the following statement:
"Marijuana is a prohibited substance in all of our drug programs. It's unfortunate this situation occurred. The Pirates have informed us that this should not have happened."
There was no way to know Khalifa would make the grand toke gesture in front of 25,000 baseball fans, but someone had to have seen his t-shirt.
Born Cameron Thomas on Sept. 8, 1987 in Minot, North Dakota and raised in Pittsburgh. Khalifa signed a recording contract with Rostrom Records when he was just 16. That led to a deal with Atlantic Records. His first two albums built awareness, but it was his third, Roilling Papers, in 2011, that was the charm for the burgeoning hip-hop artist. It peaked at No. 2 and was followed by O.N.I.F.C. (No. 2, 2012), Blacc Hollywood (No. 1, 2014) and Rolling Papers 2 (No. 2, 2018). He's had eigbt Top 10 singles, including two No. 1's—"Black and Yellow" (2010) and "See You Again" ft. Charlie Puth (2015), which was nominated for a Grammy.
In addition, he's released a number of pot-friendly mixtapes, such as Grow Season (2007), Burn After Rolling (2009), Kush & Orange Juice (2010), 28 Grams (2014), and has toured under the banners Waken Baken, Rolling Papers, Under the Influence and Dazed and Blazed.
Khalifa was arrestred for marijuana possession and trafficking while on tour at an East Carolina University show in November 2010 and again for possession in Austin, Texas in May 2014.
In April 2017, he told Vice:
"Smoking just helps to free my mind, slow my thoughts down and think about everything not only in a more poetic way, but in a more creative way in general. I'm able to relax and be free. I like ot smoke before, during and after I'm making music."
Variety's 2017 Hollyweed Impact List noted: "The Grammy-nominated rapper, often referred to as Snoop Dogg's heir apparent, has his own marijuana strain, Khlaifa Kush...and also has a sponsorship with RAW papers." His RAW products include papers, cones, filters and rolling trays.
Leafly.com describes Khalifa Kush as "similar to that of OG Kush: sour lemon and pine with an active cerebral buzz for morning and daytime use."
The strain is now a brand in association witn Cookies and Cresco Labs. Khalifa previously partnered with RiverRock in Colorado and Supreme Cannabis in Canada.
Khalifa plays George Clinton in the upcoming movie, Spinning Gold. In 2012, he co-starred with Snoop Dogg in Mac & Devin Go to High School.
Khalifa and Amber Rose were married in 2015 and divorced a year later. They have a son.
