Ybor Dispensary To Stop Selling Magic Mushrooms

Well, that didn't last long. An Ybor City dispensary has stopped their sales of "magic mushrooms" after only one month due to safety concerns from the Florida Dept. of Agriculture. Chillum Mushrooms and Hemp dispensary was the first shop in the U.S. to sell "magic mushrooms," and the first hemp dispensary in Tampa Bay.

Their shrooms did not contain psilocybin, the component that makes you "trip." However, Chillium still advertised and sold multiple products that claimed that it would "still make you trip." The Florida Dept. of Agriculture investigated in December due to their advertising claims. Turns out the mushrooms they used, Amanita Muscaria, was not a regulated product, according to News Channel 8. During the investigation, The FDACS found that “the psychedelic ingredients in the mushroom” might be poisonous. The investigation caused the Ybor dispensary to release a statement that said they were halting the sale of their magic mushrooms. Part of their statement read:

"Although these ingredients are legal by law they are not approved by the FDA as safe to consume. And that is where Chillum made their mistake."

Despite being under investigation, founder and owner of Chillum Mushroom Dispensary, Calos Hermida, said FDCAS were "quite nice" about the situation. He stated "We don’t blame them for the stop sale. I think a testament to the fact that the Department of Agriculture was just doing their job is the fact that they let us send back all the product."

[Source: News Channel 8]

We like to party here in Tampa Bay, but some people have sworn off the hootch for Dry January or trying to live a healthier lifestyle. Conveniently, the mocktail trend has been steadily growing in the area. Whether you're practicing Dry January or have sworn off alcohol for good, multiple Tampa area bars are catering to everyone and including alcohol-free cocktails on their menu. We went to Yelp to see where the best Mocktails are in the Tampa Bay area and came up with a solid list that included a couple of our favorites that didn't make Yelp's list.

These drinks are tasty for anyone to order! Maybe you want to join in for an Instagram shot. Or let your kid feel like an adult with a "sophisticated" but fun beverage. One thing to look out for when ordering mocktails is the ingredient "Seedlip." According to the Tampa Bay Times, Seedlip is known to be “the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit.”  You'll find it as the base ingredient for a lot of these mocktails. A lot of other local restaurants will disguise the drinks on their menu as "Zero-proof" or "spirit-free."

There are many reasons to abstain from alcohol, even if it's just for 30 days! Research shows that even a small break from alcohol can help improve weight loss, sleeping habits, improved mood and energy levels, and even healthier skin. The most obvious benefit is to your wallet. Not going out and spending $40+ on bar tabs can add up to savings. Some people do say that a challenge that comes from Dry January is they tend to eat more sweets in replacement of the alcohol.

Note that some of these places might change their menu depending on the season. Be sure to check out their website for more info!

One of the trendiest places in Tampa offers three tasty mocktails on their menu! The Miami Spice features Seedlip spice, coconut, pineapple, strawberry, lime, and basil!

Boulon Brasserie and Bakery is one of the best additions to Downtown Tampa. This is a must for any date night or if you just want to treat yourself. We think their "Jam Session" mocktail sounds delicious. It's made with Blueberry, Cranberry, Lemon, and Ginger Beer.

Velvet Gyspy is a great little dive bar located in Seminole Heights. Their mocktails are named after gems/crystals! Try the Emerald, made with jalapeno, pineapple and ginger!

The Found Weekend mocktail at Wild Child in St. Pete has the best reviews we've found! It's made of watermelon juice, lime, agave, and mint!

Shaker & Peel have 3 delicious zero-proof mocktails to choose from! They each sounds so refreshing and delicious but our favorite is the Strawberry-Basil Refresher.

Spook Easy Lounge located in Ybor is the best place to go for non-alcoholic beverages because well, that's what they dedicate their menu to! They serve everything from kava, kratom and Delta 8 (all non-alcoholic substances, but still cause some mind-altering effects) as well as botanical teas! Try the La Llorona, A mango-pineapple-chipotle, drowned in bubbles that will haunt your spicy dreams.

Make your way from Velvet Gypsy to Rooster & The Till for your mocktail tour around Seminole Heights. Try the Blackbird, made with blackberry, sage, lemon, and sparkling water!

St. Pete's prime karaoke bar offers 5 tasty mocktails on their menu! For those who really miss the taste of mules should try the Ginger Bourbon Smash! Made with Spiritless Kentucky 74, ginger syrup, lemon, sugar, and mint!

This one-of-a-kind cocktail bar opened last year. Located at 3102 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Valrico. Their menu features elevated takes on classic cocktails WITHOUT the alcohol. The Apple Pie Old Fashioned and Cocoa Espresso Martini are two drinks we can't put down!