AYR Wellness, a multi-state cannabis company with a strong presence in Massachusetts, has announced it will lay off 157 employees at its Milford cultivation facility by September 29, 2025. The layoffs come as part of a broader corporate restructuring plan that aims to reduce the company’s debt and streamline its operations across the U.S.
The Florida-based cannabis company officially filed a Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development on Thursday, confirming the closure of its entire Milford facility. While AYR Wellness operates other locations in Boston, Needham, Somerville, and Watertown, the layoffs currently apply only to the Milford site.
This move signals a major shift for AYR Wellness and could have ripple effects in the broader Massachusetts cannabis industry. As the company exits the Milford location, it joins a growing list of cannabis businesses nationwide facing financial challenges due to over-saturation, regulatory hurdles, and high operational costs.
“Today marks a major milestone for AYR and the restructuring of its obligations, having agreed to a pathway to reduce its debt and seek to maximize value for all stakeholders,” said Davido. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with our lenders as we execute the next steps in our restructuring plan as defined by the RSA.”
The restructuring includes selling off assets in multiple states and winding down specific operations that no longer align with the company's long-term strategy. Though details of additional closures have yet to be confirmed, the Milford layoffs raise questions about the future of AYR Wellness’s other Massachusetts locations.
Massachusetts has been a competitive and evolving market for cannabis, with dozens of operators entering the space since legalization. However, the rapid growth has not been without its challenges. Companies like AYR Wellness are now being forced to reevaluate their footprints in the face of increased pressure to turn a profit.
As the September 29 layoff deadline approaches, affected employees will face uncertainty, while industry observers will closely watch how the company’s restructuring impacts its presence in the Massachusetts cannabis landscape. For now, the Milford closure represents a significant development in the shifting dynamics of the state's cannabis industry—and a pivotal moment for AYR Wellness.
