Article Details

How weed surveillance drones destroyed the lives of these Californians - Reason Magazine

Retrieved on: 2025-09-09 23:04:27

Tags for this article:

Click the tags to see associated articles and topics

How weed surveillance drones destroyed the lives of these Californians - Reason Magazine. View article details on hiswai:

Summary

This investigative article by Mattha Busby exposes how Sonoma County's drone surveillance program, originally designed to target illegal cannabis grows, has transformed into a broader harassment campaign affecting residents who never grew marijuana at all.

The piece reveals how county authorities used warrantless drone flights to spy on private properties, leading to devastating consequences for ordinary citizens. What began as cannabis enforcement evolved into systematic targeting of code violations, resulting in six-figure fines, foreclosures, and evictions for dozens of residents. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed lawsuits challenging these surveillance practices as unconstitutional violations of privacy rights.

  • Keni Meyer lost her home and accumulated over $375,000 in fines despite no cannabis being found on her property
  • Former firefighter Mike Castagnola was evicted after eight years of legal battles over alleged building violations discovered through drone surveillance
  • The county's enforcement disproportionately targets less affluent residents while avoiding wealthier neighborhoods with political influence
  • Records show 5,600 photos taken during 700 drone flights, with many capturing private activities like birthday parties and people in their backyards

Article found on: reason.com

View Original Article

This article is found inside other hiswai user's workspaces. To start your own collection, sign up for free.

Sign Up
Book a Demo