A shop considered one of the first legal mushroom dispensaries in the U.S. closed its St. Petersburg location last weekend.
The store closed Sunday, April 26.
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.
This story first appeared at WMNF News, which is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project (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. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication or donor interested in Tampa Bay Journalism Project, please email rroa@ctampa.com. Support WMNF News by visiting the community radio station’s support page.
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.
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This article appears in Apr. 23 – 29, 2026.