Final answer:
The seizure of marijuana plants inside the home based on thermal imaging would require a search warrant to be considered valid under the Fourth Amendment. If obtained without a warrant, the evidence might be inadmissible due to the 'fruit of the poisonous tree' doctrine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario described involves the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures without a warrant. To make the seizure of marijuana plants inside the home valid, law enforcement must usually obtain a search warrant based on probable cause. However, there are certain situations where a warrant may not be required, such as with the owner's consent, under exigent circumstances, or if the items are in plain view. The use of a thermal imaging device raises privacy concerns and may be contested as a violation of the Fourth Amendment without a warrant.
The Supreme Court has addressed the use of thermal imaging technology in the landmark case of Kyllo v. United States, which held that using such devices to detect heat patterns inside a home is a 'search' within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment and usually requires a warrant. Therefore, in the described scenario, using thermal imaging to detect marijuana grow lamps would require a warrant to be valid. If done without a warrant, any resulting seizure could potentially be challenged as unlawful under the principle of 'fruit of the poisonous tree,' meaning evidence obtained from an illegal search is inadmissible in court.