St Petersburg, Grand Central District:
Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary // Credit: chillumdispensary.com
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A shop considered one of the first legal mushroom dispensaries in the US is closing its St. Petersburg location.
The store is set to close Sunday, April 26th.
Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary offers hemp-derived cannabinoids, functional mushrooms, legal psychedelic-adjacent products, and harm-reduction education.
Carlos Hermida is the store’s owner and founder.
He cited a mix of factors, including economic pressures, marketing challenges, and the industry’s evolving nature.
“We really are proud that we were in St. Pete. We were quite happy to be a part of the community. We love that community. But it seems like that community has kind of changed.” Hermida told WMNF.
The Associated Press reports that Pinellas County lost almost 12,000 residents last year, the second-most in the country.
“Our lease is up at the end of the month on April 30th. And it’s just, the numbers aren’t there to continue.” Hermida said.
Hermida said the store’s biggest challenge was marketing, saying their social media pages got shut down often.
The store’s flagship in Ybor City remains open, and they say they will continue their education program focused on psychedelic literacy.