Brionne Corbray - West Seattle resident, family man and medical marijuana dispensary owner on California Ave S.W. and in White Center – was sentenced to five years probation and a $25,000 fine for federal drug trafficking charges on Dec. 19, according to a Seattle Times report.

Up until Nov. 15, 2011, Corbray was a busy man, running two local dispensaries and one in North Seattle, all under the name GAME Collective. On that day, it all changed when DEA agents raided his businesses and home, taking all marijuana, cash, business receipts, patient records and vehicle. It was a far-reaching Puget Sound raid of several dispensaries – focusing on operations the federal government said were operating “outside the spirit of state law.”

Corbray, 47, was eventually charged federally for drug trafficking, and U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said in a statement, “These drug fronts had little to do with ‘compassionate care’ and everything to do with lining their own pockets.”

Facing up to 20 years in federal prison, Corbray said he decided to plead guilty in August of this year instead of fighting the charges.

“There is no defense against medical marijuana federally,” Corbray, who insists he never violated state medical marijuana laws, said at the time. “You can’t go to court and (win) … everybody who has gone up against the federal government and tried to fight it is in prison.

“My attorney said, ‘… you can either sign the plea agreement and stay out of jail and be with your family or you can fight it and go to jail.’”

With the passage of I-502 (legalizing recreational marijuana possession and use for adults), Washington moves further into the fray with the federal government over state rights and marijuana. As for Corbray, he said he’s done with the marijuana industry.