Washington Lives the California Dream | The San Francisco Chronicle

On a stroke of good luck, I was referred to the photo editors of the San Francisco Chronicle to photograph a story conceptualized by the question: "If San Francisco is so liberally left-leaning, then why is Washington state beating it to such passages as gay marriage and legal marijuana use?" After swapping info, I met the Chronicle's reporter for the story, Justin Berton - an excellent writer and good guy to boot - who had flown up from sunnier places to cover the issue. Over the course of two days, I made pictures around the greater Seattle area that embodied the spirit of Washington state living out the California dream. The story is located HERE, and a number of the photographic results are as follows.  Enjoy!

An expansive selection of marijuana strains are grown under hot lamps and controlled conditions Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Jake Dimmock, co-owner of the Northwest Patient Resource Center, examines a expansive selection of marijuana strains grown under hot lamps and controlled conditions Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington.
By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Marijuana reading material litters the counter of a dispensary Saturday, December 8, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Pastor Joe Fuiten, one of the region's leading evangelical pastors at the Cedar Park Assembly of God, poses for a portrait Saturday, December 8, 2012, in Bothell, Washington. Fuiten is opposed to the recent passages of gay marriage and marijuana legality in Washington state. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

A selection of marijuana is kept in jars in the back room of a dispensary Saturday, December 8, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Ashley Szekely, 28, separates Sweet Afgoo marijuana into one and four gram bags Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington. Szekely is a medical marijuana patient who pursued a job at the NWPRC "to be a part of history" in light of the recent passage of I-502. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Medical marijuana patient and customer Lola Lewis, 63, prepares to make a selection of marijuana to purchase Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington. Lewis is overjoyed at the passage of I-502. "It's better now for those who need to find certain strains for certain types of illnesses," Lewis said. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

An expansive selection of marijuana strains are grown under hot lamps and controlled conditions Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Medical marijuana patients Brett Skaret, 20, left, and Joe Engelhardt, 22, enjoy the freedom of a smoking room with other smokers Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington. The pair are vehemently opposed to the recent passage of I-502. "The whole thing criminalizes patients," Skaret said. "It's all for the money." By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Strains of marijuana - sold here at wholesale prices - sit on display Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Jesse Pergakis reaches into a jar of marijuana to fish out a sample for a customer to sniff Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Crowds of onlookers cheered and handed out flowers to congratulate recently married gay couples as they descended the steps of City Hall Sunday, December 9, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Gay marriage was legalized in Washington state on Dec. 6. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Richard, center left, and Liam Sauer-Wooden, center right, of Seattle, descend the steps of City Hall after getting married following 19 years of love on Sunday, December 9, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Gay marriage was legalized in Washington state on Dec. 6. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Nancy Monahan, retired military, center, and wife Deborah Needham, left, of Renton, WA, leave Seattle City Hall after getting married after nearly 14 years of being together on Sunday, December 9, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Gay marriage was legalized in Washington state on Dec. 6. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

A crowd of onlookers and media photograph couple Luke Botzheim, right, and Allan Carandang, center, as they descended the steps of City Hall after getting married on Sunday, December 9, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Gay marriage was legalized in Washington state on Dec. 6. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

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