Central Ave Compassionate Care has spent the past 10 years serving patients in Ayer, MA as a trusted, family-owned medical cannabis dispensary. In this video, founders John and Mark Hillier share what inspired them to open Central Ave shortly after medical cannabis was legalized in Massachusetts, along with their deep roots in the Ayer community.
From day one, their mission has been simple: provide safe, tested, high-quality medicine with compassion and integrity. As a community-focused, family-run business, Central Ave has always prioritized education, personalized guidance, and creating a welcoming space where every patient feels heard and supported.
Whether you’re exploring medical cannabis for the first time or have been with us for years, Central Ave is here to help you find the relief and wellness you need—just as we’ve proudly done for our community for the past decade.
Full Transcript - 10 Years of Central Ave Compassionate Care
What inspired us to open Central Ave 10 years ago really came in response to medical cannabis being legalized in Massachusetts. I’ve always believed in cannabis and that it should be accessible and legal. Here we are, 10 years later, still doing the work.
Our mission from the beginning was to help patients in need with tested, safe, high-quality, legal medicine. We did that, and we continue to do it. Ayer is a great town. I grew up in Shirley, right next door, and John has lived and worked in the area for a very long time. Because this is the community where we’ve lived, worked, and have friends and family, it was important that if we entered this industry, it would be seen as a positive for the community.
I went up and down Main Street, knocking on doors and talking to business owners. What I learned about Ayer was that people were very open-minded. When we were able to share our story and our mission—bringing medicine grown in nature to people in need in a legal and responsible way—it all made sense.
The medical dispensary exists for individuals who have a medical cannabis card, meaning they’ve seen a physician who certified that cannabis is part of their treatment. Every patient who comes here has a different reason for being here. It’s all about listening, truly understanding what they need, and helping them find what works for them. Our goal is to make that first step into cannabis as comfortable and positive as possible.
It’s a family-owned company, and you can feel that. We’re here, we listen, and we care. You can come in, be yourself, learn, and grow—and that’s what makes this place different.
It’s not over yet. Ten years have gone by, and we’re retooling, reinvesting, and staying committed. The way I see it, we’re part of the community, and just like many stores that have been here for generations, we should be, too.
