A court in Southwestern Bulgaria has ruled that a 82-year-old woman should pay BGN 1000 (EUR 500) after being found guilty of growing cannabis in her own yard a few years ago, media outlets report.

Baba Bozhiya ("Grandma Bozhiya") was initially sentenced to a year-and-a-half of imprisonment, but the ruling was later overturned.

She maintains the plant was sown by "someone else", according to the Bulgarian National Television.

Baba Bozhiya had earlier told reporters that the trial had affected her health tremendously, given the sheer idea a woman of her age might have to spend time behind bars.

She added that with a pension of roughly BGN 150 (EUR 75) she would find it difficult to pay the fine.

The development came on the same day when police in Southwestern Bulgaria discovered some 9 tons of cannabis grown on public land in the region of Struma, near the town on Sandanski.

The country's southwestern areas have long been known for the activity.