PharmaCann to Close Orange County Plant, Lay Off 130 Workers

HAMPTONBURGH, N.Y. – PharmaCann, one of the country’s largest commercial cannabis cultivators, will permanently close its Orange County facility in Hamptonburgh, according to a New York state layoff notice.

According to a Worker Adjustment and Restraining Notification (WARN) notice filed with New York state’s labor department, PharmaCann will close its facility on June 20 and permanently lay off 130 workers. The notice was posted on April 17.

In 2023, the Illinois-based cannabis company unveiled a $130 million expansion of its Hudson Valley facility to upgrade its indoor growing and processing conditions. PharmaCann was one of only five cultivation and dispensary companies licensed to grow medical marijuana in New York state in 2015.

Since then, PharmaCann has invested millions in upgrading the site that sits on nearly 42 acres of the Hudson Crossing Industrial Park.

Conor Eckert, President and CEO of the Orange County Partnership said the closure will mark a “transition” for the region.

“Orange County has built a dynamic & resilient cannabis ecosystem, anchored by a fully integrated supply chain spanning cultivation, processing, and testing/research. While PharmaCann’s closure represents a transition point, it also creates an opportunity for reinvestment and growth,” said Eckert in a statement.

“A highly skilled workforce remains in place, and the region’s market maturity continues to attract new interest from operators. Given the strength of the existing talent base and on-site infrastructure, and emerging activity in the cannabis market, we are confident this site will be reactivated in the near term,” he added.

The closure comes after PharmaCann has closed several of its cultivation and processing sites across the country, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Colorado. Cannabis Business Times reported that PharmaCann settled a lawsuit related to its leasing defaults.

Radio Catskill reached out to PharmaCann for comment but did not hear back ahead of publication.