Jim Vollendroff appointed to Liquor and Cannabis Board – Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Jim Vollendroff, MPA, has been appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to the vacant seat on the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) and will leave his current department role as the Behavioral Health Senior Advisor for Policy and Advocacy at the end of this month. He joined our department in 2019 as the founding Director of the UW Medicine Behavioral Health Institute (BHI) at Harborview Medical Center where he worked to bring researchers and clinicians together to innovate and improve the delivery of mental health and addiction services and to implement and disseminate research-based practices, including planning for the development of a crisis stabilization urgent care walk-in clinic.

“Jim brings a unique perspective and life experience to the board that is completely new and will be enormously valuable,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “The transformation of Washington’s cannabis industry influences the economic, public health and social well-being of our communities. I appreciate Jim’s willingness to serve in this role.” The board holds regular public meetings and work sessions with stakeholders, makes policy and budget decisions, and adjudicates contested license applications and enforcement actions on licensees. We thank Jim for his time with us and wish him all the best in this important new role.