Jennifer Flanagan

Senior Advisor

Boston

j.flanagan@vicentellp.com

617-934-2121

800 Boylston St.
26th Floor
Boston, MA 02199

Licensing
Regulatory Compliance
State and Local Government & Policy

M.S., Mental Health Counseling, Fitchburg State University
B.A., Political Science, University of Massachusetts Boston

Overview

Jennifer Flanagan serves as senior advisor for Vicente LLP. She most recently served as one of the inaugural commissioners on the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, having been appointed by Governor Charlie Baker in 2017. In this role, she directed the administration of the laws enabling consumer access to medical and adult-use cannabis in the Commonwealth. As the public health appointee to the Commission, Commissioner Flanagan played an extensive role in crafting, implementing, and executing the regulations that guided Massachusetts’ nascent cannabis industry.

Prior to joining the Commission, Jennifer 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. She 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, Jennifer became a national policy leader through her continued focus on mental health and substance abuse issues. As chair of the Senate Special Committee on Opioid Addiction in 2014, she 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, Jennifer co-authored a policy toolkit that is in use by local and state governments across the nation.

Former Commissioner Flanagan has close ties to her community.  She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Fitchburg State University, the Executive Board and Board of Trustees for RFK Community Alliance in Lancaster, Massachusetts, the Advisory Board of Trustees for the Seven Hills Foundation in Worcester, Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Advisory Board for the ParentChild+ program, and the Advisory Board for the UMass Women into Leadership program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 

Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Fitchburg State University.

Experience

Leadership & Community Involvement

  • Executive Board, RFK Community Alliance 

  • Member, District Attorney Joe Early's Central Massachusetts Opioid Task Force

  • Member, Advisory Board of Trustees, Seven Hills Foundation

  • Member, Advisory Board, Recovery Centers of America

  • Member, Advisory Board, UMass Women into Leadership Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst 

  • State Senator, Worcester and Middlesex District, Massachusetts

  • State Representative, 4th Worcester District, Massachusetts

  • Vice-Chair, Committee on Ways and Means

  • Chair, Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

  • Chair, Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

  • Vice-Chair, Joint Committee on Public Health

  • Chair, Special Senate Committee on Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Options

  • Chair, Senate Special Committee on Opioid Addiction

  • Leader, National Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders of Women in Government

Events

In the Media