Article Originally Published on October 13, 2023.
Chillium Mushroom and Hemp dispensary, located in Ybor City, added mushroom products to its store recently. Carlos Hermida, a long-time cannabis activist, runs the store.
What is Chillium’s History?
After getting a Master’s in Business Administration, Hermida moved to California to study the business aspect of marijuana at Oaksterdam University. He moved back to Florida to help with the campaign that pushed for the legalization of medicinal marijuana.
Hermida became a cannabis educator and opened a local branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). He also pushes for the decriminalization of marijuana in the Tampa Bay Area.
“We have been doing this for a long time,” said Hermida.
Chillium, which opened in 2018, is branded as the first hemp dispensary in the Tampa Bay Area. It sells hemp products, glass galleries and pipes, and several cannabinoid products.
Hermida decided to sell these products after attending a CHAMPS convention (A trade show where vendors sell Glass, Vapes, CBD, etc.) in Las Vegas.
“I was there looking to buy new products for the store that I found to be creative and innovative. CHAMPS made it a point to section off four companies in the mycology section. I fell in love with these companies and I decided to rebrand our company to sell mostly mushrooms.”
Chillium sells several different types of mushroom products including growth kits, mycelium (fungi filaments), lion’s mane mushrooms, and even magic mushroom products.
“We [Chillium Mushroom and Hemp dispensary] are not the first people to sell Amanita Muscaria in the area. I first found out about the mushroom 15 years ago and I didn’t think about it until now,” said Hermida. “We are also not the first people to sell Lion’s Mane and other mushrooms, but we are the first people to sell it in this fashion.”
Mushroom products Overview:
Amanita muscaria is a legal mushroom with psychedelic tendencies. Mycologists (Scientists who study fungi) label it as a toxic mushroom which contributes to its legality. It contains an acid called ibotenic acid. However, Hermida argues that this is the wrong assessment of the mushroom.
“People who practice mycology have gotten this wrong,” said Hermida. “Indigenous cultures have been smoking this mushroom since ancient times. We came across a company that … converts (decarboxylates) ibotenic acid into muscimol and prepares the mushroom properly and safely.”
Recent studies suggest that a properly prepared Amanita Muscaria mushroom may be benefit those who suffer from stress and depression.
The Amanita products have a big hit in the Tampa Area. In addition, Hermida argues that they may be more beneficial than the still-illegal psilocybin mushrooms.
“Our customers seem to be saying that it is more of a contemplative mushroom, that the effects that they feel of the ibotenic acid has people thinking. It’s like a soul-searching mushroom,” said Hermida.
Changing attitude regarding Psychedelics:
The availablity of these products show a changing public attitude about drugs not only within Tampa Bay but throughout the United States. 39 states legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Meanwhile, Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for medicinal purposes.
Around 60 percent of Americans support the decriminalization of weed.
On Oct. 6, President Biden pardoned thousands of people convicted of simple marijuana possession; a step that many hope will lead to the decriminalization of marijuana on a federal level.
Studies show that marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms could be used to help people suffering from chronic pains, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and may help against drug addictions.
“People today are much more open to the idea of these types of drugs becoming legal because of the increase of research being done on their many health benefits,” said Carola Howson, a business management major at Rollins College near Orlando.
Students within the Tampa Bay community support legalization of psychedelics because of the potential benefits from studying them.
“I support the legislation in full for this stuff,” said Zachary Jones, University of Tampa writing major. “One of the reasons is because studying them could lead to interesting results that may help people.”
Hermida argues that this change is exemplified in the past year by the popularity of documentaries on Netflix regarding the benefits of psychedelics.
“The public is really starting to open its eyes to the benefits of psychedelics in general,” said Hermida.
Article Originally Published on October 13, 2023, in The Minaret: First Magic Mushroom Dispensary In Tampa Shows Changing Attitudes Towards Psychedelic Culture
