Albuquerque, New Mexico, has launched a new basic income initiative aimed at helping families in areas with high needs. Starting this month, selected households will receive monthly payments with no strings attached. This effort is being partially funded by tax revenue generated from recreational marijuana sales.
Back in March, city officials approved a $4.02 million budget for the program. Of that, over $2 million is coming directly from the city’s recreational marijuana revenue. The plan currently supports 80 families living in two school districts where students face significant academic challenges. Each family will receive $750 every month, and the program also offers financial counseling to help participants manage and plan their finances more effectively.
The initiative is part of a broader trend of guaranteed income programs being tested across the country. Unlike universal basic income, which provides monthly payments to everyone regardless of need, guaranteed income programs are usually targeted. These initiatives often focus on groups that face systemic disadvantages, such as low-income families, single mothers, communities of color, and transgender individuals.
Supporters argue that giving people regular cash payments helps stabilize their lives. Research from similar programs has shown that recipients often experience less stress, improved mental well-being, more secure housing situations, and better job opportunities—mainly because they can take time to seek employment or gain new skills.
However, not everyone is on board with this approach. Legislators in states like Idaho, South Dakota, and Iowa have pushed back, passing laws to prevent local governments from implementing these types of programs. Critics claim that guaranteed income discourages people from working and leans too far into government dependency.
Despite this criticism, leaders in Albuquerque are standing firm. They say the purpose of this effort is to help close the economic gap that disproportionately affects marginalized groups. According to the city, families impacted by cannabis-related criminalization, especially Black, Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander communities, as well as women and low-income households need this support.
City Councilor and Cannabis Equity and Community Reinvestment Fund head Klarissa Peña stressed the importance of accountability. She noted that the initiative was not just about handing out money but also about producing real, measurable improvements for people who have faced systemic barriers for years. Peña added that in the long run, the approach could lead to healthier communities, lower addiction rates, and savings for taxpayers.
Such programs show the far-reaching extra benefits that cannabis legalization brings to jurisdictions which license various marijuana companies like Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) to operate within their markets.
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