Here’s a feel-good twist we didn’t see coming: cannabis taxes are helping families thrive.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the city is rolling out a groundbreaking guaranteed basic income program—funded entirely by cannabis tax revenue. Starting this month, 80 low-income families in historically underserved neighborhoods will receive $750 a month for a year, no strings attached. The $2.1 million pilot is focused on areas like the International District and parts of the West Side, where economic inequality runs deep.

What makes this even more powerful? The funding comes from a substance once criminalized—now being used to support and uplift the very communities most harmed by past drug policies. It’s poetic justice, funded by progress.

In addition to monthly payments, participating families will get access to financial coaching and support, helping them build a path to long-term stability. City leaders see it as a bold move toward equity, while critics still question the concept of guaranteed income.

But here’s the simple truth: a tax on a once-taboo plant is now delivering dignity, opportunity, and second chances.