{"id":245745,"date":"2026-04-25T04:08:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T04:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/245745\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T04:08:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T04:08:38","slug":"legal-mushroom-dispensary-in-st-pete-will-close-on-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/245745\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Legal mushroom dispensary’ in St. Pete will close on Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AChillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary in St. Petersburg, Florida. Credit: Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary<\/a><\/p>\n

A shop considered one of the first legal mushroom dispensaries in the U.S. is closing its St. Petersburg location.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The store is set to close Sunday, April 26.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary offers hemp-derived cannabinoids, functional mushrooms, legal psychedelic-adjacent products, and harm-reduction education.<\/p>\n

Carlos Hermida is the store\u2019s owner and founder.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He cited a mix of factors, including economic pressures, marketing challenges, and the industry\u2019s evolving nature.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.\u201d Hermida told WMNF.<\/p>\n

This story<\/a> first appeared at WMNF News, which is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project <\/a>\u00a0(TBJP), a nascent Creative Loafing Tampa Bay effort supported by grants and a coalition of donors who make specific contributions via the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation<\/a>. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication or donor interested in Tampa Bay Journalism Project<\/a>, please email rroa@ctampa.com<\/a>. Support WMNF News by visiting the community radio station\u2019s support page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Associated Press reports that Pinellas County lost almost 12,000 residents last year, the second-most in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur lease is up at the end of the month on April 30th. And it\u2019s just, the numbers aren\u2019t there to continue.\u201d Hermida said.<\/p>\n

Hermida said the store\u2019s biggest challenge was marketing, saying their social media pages got shut down often.<\/p>\n

The store\u2019s flagship in Ybor City remains open, and they say they will continue their education program focused on psychedelic literacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article appears in Apr. 23 \u2013 29, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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