Ivor Wiltshire, in his late 70s, had planted a moss phlox, a common evergreen with pink flowers which, although it looks nothing like the cannabis, gives off a similar aroma.
First the Wiltshire's neighbours were threatened by a local drugs gang who demanded: "Give us the weed, man".
Then, as Ivor and his wife Margaret returned from a holiday, they found their front door had been broken in and the police had raided the house looking for drugs.
Ivor had no idea of the smell from the plant however, as he lost his sense of smell 30 years ago.
He said: "We can't believe such a small plant has caused so much trouble. I've only seen a picture of cannabis on the television and I have certainly never smoked it."
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