JENNIFER FLANAGAN

Jennifer Flanagan is the Senior Vice President for Liberty Square Group, Inc.  She served as one of the Inaugural Commissioners on the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, having been appointed as the Public Health appointee by then Governor Charlie Baker. Prior to joining the Commission, Commissioner Flanagan served in the Massachusetts General Court for over 13 years, including four terms as the State Senator for the Worcester and Middlesex District and two terms as the State representative for the 4th Worcester District. Commissioner Flanagan served on several committees while in office, including as Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery; Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; Chairperson of the Special Senate Committee on Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Options; and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health.

Throughout her tenure in elected office, Commissioner Flanagan became a national policy leader through her continued focus on mental health and substance use disorder issues. As Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Opioid Addiction in 2014, Commissioner Flanagan co-authored and shepherded landmark legislation mandating health insurance coverage for substance abuse disorder treatment for up to 14 days. In her role leading the National Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders of Women in Government, Commissioner Flanagan co-authored a policy toolkit that has been used by local and state governments across the nation.