Russian rapper sentenced to eight years for marijuana cultivation

Russian rapper Obe1Kanobe, real name Nikita Vartikov, has been sentenced to eight years in a strict-regime prison colony for growing marijuana at his home.

Authorities say Vartikov cultivated the illegal crop in a rented apartment in the village of Lernin Sovkhoz in the Moscow region, intending to sell it. Around one kilogram of marijuana was seized when he was arrested in March, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

Vartikov told investigators that he also used the drug to help combat insomnia. Prosecutors had sought an 11-year sentence, but the court handed down eight years.