[Sativa]

The operator of a Corona marijuana dispensary pleaded not guilty Wednesday in federal court in Riverside to drug-trafficking charges that stem from a business he operated until it was raided three weeks ago.

Ronald Bradley Naulls faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and maintaining an establishment for the distribution of marijuana, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Stacy said.

Naulls, 26, is the owner of Healing Nations Collective, a Corona business Naulls describes as a medicinal-marijuana collective aimed at providing cannabis to patients with doctors' prescriptions for the drug.

The Riverside County native said he sees himself as an activist trapped in a legal battle between state and federal laws.

California voters legalized marijuana for medical use in 1996. But federal law prohibits possession of marijuana, and federal regulators have raided and shut down dispensaries such as the Corona collective.

Though Inland dispensaries have been raided over the past year, Naulls is one of the first owners to face federal drug-trafficking charges.

"I'm caught in a fight between the state and the federal government over the legality of this medicine," said Naulls in the courthouse hallway.

Naulls said he began studying the law surrounding medicinal marijuana when his chiropractor prescribed it to him a few years ago. He consulted attorneys and opened Healing Nations knowing he could end up facing criminal charges, he said.

However, Naulls said he regrets putting himself at the forefront of the legal battle over marijuana.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested Naulls on July 17, then raided his home and shop as dozens of patients and employees protested outside the business. The raid and arrest were part of a series that took place in Hollywood, San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

Naulls' wife, Anisha Naulls, also was arrested that day on suspicion of child endangerment. The couple, who have three young children, are suspected of having large quantities of marijuana in their Donatello Street home, Corona police Sgt. Jerry Pawluczenko said. The children were removed from the Naulls home by child protective services.

"If I would have known my kids would be taken away, I never would have done this," said Ronald Naulls. "I never thought this would happen."

On July 18, federal agents served a warrant and seized marijuana and other property at the Perris Tree of Life Collective, which federal officials said Naulls also operated.

Stacy declined to comment on whether charges would be filed in connection with the Perris raid, saying the investigation was continuing. A federal search warrant affidavit unsealed last week showed that since January, federal drug agents and Corona police were involved in an undercover surveillance of Naulls at his home, business and a Norco storage locker where the affidavit stated that marijuana was delivered and collected.



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Source: USAA
Author: Paige Austin
Contact: paustin@PE.com
Copyright: 2007 Press-Enterprise Company
Website: Corona marijuana-shop owner pleads not guilty