ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – For the first time ever, Albuquerque could be offering cash to low-income families. To start, the initiative would benefit those in the international district and southwest Albuquerque. The city could be following other cities across the country in providing “guaranteed income” to low-income families and the funding would come from cannabis tax revenue.
“The cannabis tax has some legislation associated with it that indicates those fines need to be used to support populations that were impacted by the criminalization of marijuana and so since that was the purpose for the funds, this aligns really well,” said Sonya Lara, Director of Equity and Inclusion. The guaranteed income program would be run by the City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion partnering with Albuquerque Public Schools.