Woman says birds planted her pot plant

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A 75-year-old Greek woman has been charged with drug offenses after police in her a sleepy island village spotted a small marijuana plant growing on her balcony, authorities said.

Hariklia Griva, a widowed mother of four from Ayiassos, on the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesvos, was arrested last Wednesday and charged with growing marijuana with the intent of trafficking in the drug. She was released on bail of $2,480.

The retiree, whose late husband was a policeman, told police the 16-inch potted plant grew from seed dropped by her pet canaries. The birds live in a cage on the balcony overlooking a busy Ayiassos street — opposite the local police station.

"I couldn't believe it, when they told me I was being arrested," Griva said. "The plant must have grown from the bird seed. I had no idea what the plant was. I watered it regularly. I thought it looked quite nice."