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| Compassion Flower Inn Heading for Another Joint |
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Posted by CN Staff on December 20, 2006 at 06:34:34 PT By Shanna McCord, Sentinel Staff Writer Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel 
Santa Cruz, CA -- The Santa Cruz bed, "bud" and breakfast, the butt of many jokes and center of media attention worldwide, has closed its doors.The owners of the Compassion Flower Inn on Laurel Street packed their bags and moved to Hawaii on Tuesday, leaving empty the inn established in 2000 primarily for medical marijuana users. "It's been a fun ride," said Andrea Tischler, Compassion Flower Inn co-owner. "We are proud of our achievements in Santa Cruz and leave a considerable legacy behind." Tischler and her longtime partner, Maria Mallek-Tischler, who have been leaders in local efforts to legalize marijuana, said their business was hampered by problems in the neighborhood. They plan to take their brand of medical marijuana business to Hawaii, where they want to open a care home for aging gays and lesbians. The two restored the 140-year-old Victorian and converted it into a bed and breakfast that allowed guests to smoke joints with a doctor's permission. The inn had five guest rooms that ran from $125-$175 a night. Decorating touches included tile mosaics on the tubs in the shape of a marijuana leaf, and a large marijuana leaf mosaic in the sidewalk leading to the front porch. Hemp leaves are painted on the walls, and guests were given complimentary bars of soap made with hemp. The drapes, bed spreads and pillowcases are all made from hemp fibers. The inn was known for its hemp seed pancakes, and late-night comedian Jay Leno joked during a monologue years ago that "Santa Cruz has a pot hotel, a place you can find doobies under the pillows." Tischler said ongoing behavioral problems in the neighborhood contributed to its closure. She cited drug and alcohol use by people hanging around the inn as factors that made staying in business difficult. "We'd be kept awake every night," Tischler said. "They would use our front yard and parking lot as a bathroom. They'd steal anything not fastened down." Tischler, 63, also said the constant cleaning and cooking, and other upkeep required to stay in business, had become too much for her and Mallek-Tischler. The inn is up for sale, otherwise Tischler hopes someone will lease the house and keep the inn going or turn the place into a yoga or massage retreat. In Hawaii, the two plan to start a "gay, gray and gourmet" business — an assisted-care facility for seniors. "As our population ages, I believe we will see the demand for more compassion 'kine bud' nursing homes in the states that have approved medical marijuana," she said. "If you have only months or a few years to live, why not reduce suffering and be happy?" Tischler was a driving force behind the passage of Measure K in Santa Cruz. Measure K was a ballot initiative passed in November that makes adult use of marijuana the lowest priority for Santa Cruz police officers. Complete Title: Santa Cruz's Compassion Flower Inn Owners Heading for Another Joint Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA) Related Articles & Web Site: Compassion Flower Inn Police Should Focus on Other Things Besides Pot MJ Advocates Push Proposal To Ease Drug Law Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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