Stoel Rives LLP offers its congratulations to Rick Garza on his appointment as Director of the Washington State Liquor Control Board. Today the agency issued a press release announcing the appointment will be effective June 1, 2013. Garza will be assuming leadership in a time of unprecedented change – the agency is on the tail end of implementing privatization of liquor sales and at the forefront of developing a comprehensive regulatory system to govern legalized growing, processing and retailing of marijuana for recreational use.