♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," CONGRESSWOMAN ADELITA GRIJALVA JOINS US FOR AN UPDATE ON HER FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN CONGRESS.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE IMPACT OF TARIFFS AND OTHER TRADE ISSUES ON ARIZONA FARMERS.

>>> AND IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE LEGALIZATION OF ADULT-USE MARIJUANA IN ARIZONA.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

QUICK CHECK OF HEADLINES, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED IT WAS INVESTIGATING ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY FOR, QUOTE, SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT.

THIS AFTER KELLY AND SEVERAL OTHER LAWMAKERS REMINDED U.S.

MILITARY PERSONNEL THEY DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW UNLAWFUL ORDERS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SUGGESTED THAT SUCH A MESSAGE WAS, QUOTE, SEDITIOUS AND IF FOUND GUILTY KELLY AND OTHERS COULD BE HANGED.

KELLY RETIRED ASTRONAUT AND MILITARY CAPTAIN ADDED IN PART IF THIS IS MEANT TO INTIMIDATE ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM DOING OUR JOBS AND HOLDING THIS ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE, IT WON'T WORK.

I'VE GIVEN TOO MUCH TO THIS COUNTRY TO BE SILENCED BY BULLYS WHO CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR OWN POWER THAN PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION.

OVER THE WEEKEND, KELLY HAD THESE THOUGHTS ON HIS MESSAGE TO THE MILITARY AND THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE.

>> YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE LAW.

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE CONSTITUTION.

HE'S THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

HE SHOULD UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.

HE'S THE HIGHEST MEMBER OF THE MILITARY IN OUR COUNTRY.

HE SHOULD UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

HE CLEARLY DOES NOT.

I MEAN, IT'S VERY CLEAR IN THE USMJ THAT MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY HAVE TO FOLLOW ORDERS.

THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED NOT TO FOLLOW ILLEGAL OR UNLAWFUL ORDERS.

VERY CLEAR.

HERE'S THE THING.

HE HAS TALKED ABOUT SENDING TROOPS INTO MORE U.S.

CITIES.

HE'S TALKED ABOUT INVOKING THE INSURRECTION ACT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TOO FAR BACK TO HIS FIRST ADMINISTRATION WHERE IN 2020, HE WENT TO HIS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, AND HE ASKED THE QUESTION, HE SAID CAN'T WE JUST SHOOT THESE PROTESTERS IN THE LEGS?

THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN ILLEGAL ORDER, IF IT WAS GIVEN.

HE DIDN'T GIVE THE ORDER, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY RATTLING AROUND IN HIS HEAD.

HE'S GOT THESE IDEAS AND THESE ARE DANGEROUS IDEAS.

TED: IN ANNOUNCING THE INVESTIGATION TODAY, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT MILITARY RETIREES ARE PROHIBITED FROM, QUOTE, INTERFERING WITH THE LOYALTY, MORALE OR GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE OF THE ARMED FORCES.

>>> BEEN ALMOST A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN ADELITA GRIJALVA WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE AFTER A SEVEN-WEEK DELAY DUE TO HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON REFUSING TO ADMINISTER THE OATH DURING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

LONGEST SUCH DELAY FOR INCOMING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE TO BE SWORN IN AFTER WINNING A SPECIAL ELECTION.

WE WELCOME CONGRESSWOMAN ADELITA GRIJALVA TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, HAPPY TO BE HERE.

TED: SO MANY THINGS I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

HOW ARE YOU ADAPTING TO FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF CONGRESS?

>> LITERALLY, LAST WEEK WAS MY FIRST FULL WEEK, AND I WAS ASSIGNED COMMITTEES WHICH WAS GREAT.

BOTH OF THE COMMITTEES MET AT THE SAME TIME IN TWO DIFFERENT BUILDINGS ON TWO DIFFERENT FLOORS, SO WELCOME TO CONGRESS!

[LAUGHTER].

TED: YOUR FATHER'S EXPERIENCE, THOUGH, HAS TO HELP YOU A LITTLE BIT, DOESN'T IT?

>> THAT'S HIS EXPERIENCE.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, IF MY DAD WERE A PILOT, I DON'T SIT IN A COCKPIT AND FLY AWAY.

I NEVER WORKED ON THE HILL OR WAS AN INTERN OR FELLOW IN D.C.

IT'S A HUGE LEARNING CURVE FOR ME.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUME, MY DAD SAID I KNOW CONGRESS, A BRAND-NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME, I'M A VERY FRESHMAN FRESHMAN.

TED: AS A FRESHMAN FRESHMAN, WHAT'S THE MOOD LIKE, WE KEEP THINKING THERE'S A HUGE DIVIDE BACK THERE.

ARE YOU SENSING THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S LITERALLY LIKE WATCHING A SOAP OPERA IN REALTIME.

WATCHING HOW YOU LITERALLY SIT ON TWO DIFFERENT SIDES, LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA, YOU SIT ON TWO DIFFERENT SIDES, NOT A LOT OF COMMUNICATING BACK AND FORTH, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF CENSURE REQUESTS, AND THINGS PUSHED BY DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, SO WATCHING THAT UNFOLD IN REALTIME HAS BEEN -- I KEEP THINKING MYSELF, CONGRESS WAS CLOSED DOWN.

IN FOUR MONTHS THEY WORKED 19 DAYS.

WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DURING THIS HORRIBLE ECONOMY, DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME WHERE PEOPLE WEREN'T RECEIVING S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS SHUT DOWN.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT IS TAKING UP VERY PRECIOUS TIME IN CONGRESS.

TED: IS IT TAKING UP MORE TIME?

DO YOU SENSE THE DIVIDE IS EASING A LITTLE BIT, OR NO SENSE OF THAT AT ALL?

>> IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE ISSUE, I THINK.

I THINK THE FACT HELPS IF THERE WERE MORE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS THAT WERE WILLING TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

I THINK THAT WE WOULD ABLE TO DO MORE TO HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S SUCH A HUGE DIVISION, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE DEVASTATING BILLS, AND I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY OF WHAT THEY CALL THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, AND WHAT IT'S A REALLY HORRIBLE BENEFITTING BILL FOR MOST ARIZONA, AND THE NATION, I FEEL LIKE IF WE WERE TO FOCUS MORE ISSUE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO HELP WORKING PEOPLE, WE'D BE WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME.

TED: SPEAKING OF THAT, OF COURSE, THE SHUTDOWN DEALT WITH THE ACA PREMIUMS AND SENDING THE SUBSIDIES.

PART OF THE DEAL WAS THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, THE SPEAKER IN YOUR HOUSE, SAID THERE WILL BE A VOTE.

FIRST, DO YOU TRUST THERE WILL BE A VOTE, AND SECONDLY, WHAT GOOD WOULD THE VOTE BE IF IT DOESN'T PASS?

>> WELL, THE SENATE LEADERSHIP AGREED TO HAVE A VOTE.

THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP HAS NOT.

TED: INTERESTING.

>> AND HAS BEEN VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID ANY REAL COMMITMENT ON THE ISSUE.

SO WHILE, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE BELIEVE THEIR LEADERSHIP, THERE WAS NEVER ANY CONFIRMATION THAT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE ANYWHERE NEAR THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS COMING AROUND.

SO MUCH OF THIS IS REALLY JUST AN ATTACK OF THE FOUNDATION OF ACA.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS NEVER LIKED IT, RIGHT?

IT BARELY PASSED.

BUT THEY'VE HAD 15 YEARS TO COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION, AND ALL WE'RE SEEING IS A DISMANTLES OF ACA.

TED: I'M HEARING, THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS, MIGHT BE AN AGREEMENT, MAYBE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT FOR A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION ON THE SUBSIDIES.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING AS WELL?

>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HEARING AS WELL, AND PUT A CAP ON INCOME, WHICH I DON'T THINK WE'RE OPPOSED TO, BUT REALLY IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW MUCH OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY, AND IF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE HEALTH CARE, SO THAT YOU DON'T GET THE PREVENTIVE APPOINTMENTS, WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS YOU HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING INTO URGENT CARES AND EMERGENCY ROOMS IN A CRISIS POSITION, WHICH ACTUALLY JUST TAXES AN ALREADY STRESSED SYSTEM OF OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM.

TED: I KNOW THE SENATE IS TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS INSTEAD OF THE SUBSIDIES PUTTING THEM INTO HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY REALLY HELP.

I'VE HAD HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT.

IF YOU ARE HEALTHY, THOSE ARE GREAT.

PROBLEM IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE HEALTHY PEOPLE OPTING INTO A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

EVERYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS MORE SUPPORT IS GOING TO GO INTO THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEM.

IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT UTILIZE IT MORE, IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE.

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT AS A SUPPLEMENT TO A QUALITY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS GREAT, BUT INSTEAD OF, IT'S NOT GOING TO BENEFIT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

TED: LAST QUESTION ON THIS, DO YOU FEEL THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT HERE?

WHAT DID THE SHUTDOWN ACCOMPLISH?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, REPUBLICANS, AGAIN, HAVE HAD 15 YEARS TO WORK ON THIS SYSTEM TO.

WORK ON SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ALL SUPPORT, AND WORK ON IT IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WISH WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, INSTEAD OF A SHUTDOWN, THAT THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO WORK TOWARDS A BIPARTISAN CONTINUING RESOLUTION, THAT WOULD INCLUDE REAL SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IMPROVING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS -- THE VAST MAJORITY ANYWAY, WANT TO IMPROVE THE ACA SYSTEM.

I THINK THEY WANT TO DISMANTLE IT BIT BY BIT.

TED: CAN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT ASKING THE EPSTEIN FILE.

THEY'RE OUT.

YOU WERE A VERY BIG PART OF THAT, AND NOT ADMINISTERING THE OATH AS FAR AS THE SPEAKER WAS CONCERNED, THAT WAS A BIG PART OF IT AS WELL.

MOST OF THE FILES ARE OUT, A LOT MORE TO GO HERE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS, AND WHAT DO YOU TELL YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE FILES, WHAT THEY SAY, WHAT THEY MEAN, AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS SHOULD BE TO THEM?

>> SO REALLY SO MUCH OF IT IS ABOUT, FOR ME, IT WAS ABOUT JUSTICE FOR THE SURVIVORS, AND ACTUALLY SEEING LEGAL CONSEQUENCES TO PEOPLE WHO WERE A PART OF A VERY SYSTEMIC RING OF PEDOPHILIA AND ABUSE OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN.

SO FOR ME, THAT WAS ABOUT JUSTICE, AND THEN THE OTHER IS TRANSPARENCY FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION.

SO WHEN TRUMP WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, HE SAID DAY ONE, I'M GOING RELEASE THE FILES, AND THEN HIS DAY ONE CAME AND WENT, AND WE HAD TO HAVE A VOTE IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.

TRUMP COULD HAVE RELEASED THESE FILES WHENEVER HE WANTED TO, SO THE HOLDUP IN TRYING TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF REPUBLICANS THAT SIGNED ONTO THAT DISCHARGE PETITION, ALL OF THIS WAS SOME SORT OF SHOW, AND WHAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN IS HOW MUCH OF THE INFORMATION WE'RE GOING TO GET IS REALLY ALL OF IT OR IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO GET PIECEMEAL INFORMATION, AND WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, I CAN'T COUNT ON THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE DESERVE.

TED: CONGRESSWOMAN, LAST QUESTION, BACK TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE EPSTEIN FILES.

THIS PLAYED SO MUCH -- IT ADDED DISTRUST, CYNICISM, ARE YOU SENSING THAT FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

EPSTEIN FILES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE CHARGES AND THE ALLEGATION, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

IT'S THERE.

SO ARE OTHER THINGS.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS TELLING YOU?

>> ONE, THEY WERE VERY HAPPY TO FINDLY SEE ME SWORN IN REGARDLESS WHETHER YOU SUPPORTED ME IN THE ELECTION OR NOT.

IT'S LIKE ARIZONA DESERVES TO HAVE REPRESENTATION, AND WE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS THAT BROKE THE RECORD FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOB, BUT HERE WE ARE.

I THINK WHAT IT ALLOWS US TO DO IS HAVE A SOLID PLATFORM ON THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE ELECTED TO FIGHT FOR, AND BRING THOSE TO THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE THESE ARE ISSUES FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

I'M EXCITED NAR PLATFORM.

TED: ALL RIGHT, REPRESENTATIVE ADELITA GRIJALVA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CONGRATULATIONS -- I DON'T HAVE TO CALL YOU CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT ANYMORE, YOU ARE NOW CONGRESSWOMAN GRIJALVA.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: AMERICAN FARMERS HAVE LONG STRUGGLED WITH HIGH COSTS AND LOW PRICES FOR WHAT THEY GROW AND RAISE, THIS YEAR THERE IS GREATER UNCERTAINTY ON FARMS AND RANCHES DUE TO TARIFFS AND ON-AGAIN/OFF-AGAIN ISSUES.

JOINING US IS DENNIS HOFFMAN.

ASU ECONOMIST.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

TED: HOW MUCH UNCERTAINTY IS IN THE FARM INDUSTRY?

>> IT'S TOUGH, THEY'RE GETTING SQUEEZED.

I THOUGHT IT WAS TOUGH BEING A STATE EMPLOYEE AND WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

IT'S TOUGH BEING A FARMER THESE DAYS.

TED: TARIFFS?

TRADE?

>> IT'S TWO SIDED.

THEY'RE SQUEEZED ON COSTS, AND THE MARKET FOR THEIR PRODUCTS IS CHALLENGED.

SO I'D BE HAPPY TO CHAT ABOUT EITHER ONE.

TED: LET'S START WITH TARIFFS AND WHAT THEY MEAN IN TERMS OF EXPORTS, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF IMPORTING MACHINERY, FERTILIZER, PESTICIDES, ALL THE THINGS NEEDED FOR FARMING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS BEGINS -- YOU KNOW, SOME FARMERS MAY THINK WHAT DO WE CARE ABOUT THAT UKRAINE-RUSSIAN CONFLICT?

WELL, A LOT OF FERTILIZER, EVIDENTLY IS SOURCED FROM UKRAINE AND RUSSIA, SO THE COSTS OF FERTILIZER SKYROCKETED IN 2022 AND STAYED UP THERE, NATURAL GAS IS A COST DRIVER FOR FERTILIZER.

WE GET FERTILIZER INGREDIENTS FROM CANADA.

SO IT'S AS USUAL, MUCH OF THIS IS GLOBALLY SOURCED, AND IT'S JUST OUT OF FAVOR RIGHT NOW.

IT COSTS A LOT MORE.

TED: AND FARM EQUIPMENT, I WOULD IMAGINE -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: NOT GOING DOWN THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT GOING DOWN.

AND TO FINANCE FARM EQUIPMENT IS TOUGH.

TED: SOYBEANS.

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH SOYBEANS, IT'S GONE NUTTY?

>> INTERESTING CASE STUDY, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL TELL ME, AS YOU KNOW ME AND FREE TRADE, I'M ONE OF THOSE EVIL GLOBALISTS, YOU KNOW?

SOYBEAN EXPORTS FROM BRAZIL TO CHINA AND FROM THE U.S.

TO CHINA IN 2016, THEY'RE ABOUT THE SAME, ABOUT 35 MILLION METRIC TONS.

WE'RE GIDDY NOW BECAUSE WE GOT AN AGREEMENT WITH CHINA.

TED, THEY'RE GOING TO BUY 25 MILLION FOR EACH OF THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FROM US.

GOING TO BUY 75 MILLION FROM BRAZIL.

SO IT'S LIKE TWO TRAJECTORIES.

WE STARTED THIS TRADE WAR FIGHT WHEN MR.

TRUMP TOOK OFFICE IN 2017, AND OUR EXPORTS OF SOYBEANS HAVE BEEN FROZEN OR DOWN PRETTY MUCH EVER SINCE.

TED: AND THAT'S KILLING THE INDUSTRY -- I IMAGINE NOT HELPING THE INDUSTRY.

>> NOT HELPING THE INDUSTRY AT ALL.

TED: CATTLE RANCHING.

BEEF PRICES.

HERE IN ARGENTINA ALL OF A SUDDEN, A HUGE PLAYER.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> YEAH.

MR.

TRUMP'S DISCOVERED THERE'S A BENEFIT FROM TRADE.

WE CAN GET LOWER PRICES IN AN AREA WHERE MY CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT HAPPY.

SO BEEF HAS BEEN A TOUGH STORY.

AS BEEF PRICES PERKED UP AND PERKED UP BECAUSE THERE'S SOME SHORTAGES AND DEMAND CONTINUES, SO THE PRICES CONTINUED UP.

SO FARMERS WERE CAUGHT -- DO I RAISE THESE CATTLE, FEED THEM, RAISE THEM, BEAR ALL THE COSTS AND SELL THEM AT AN UNCERTAIN PRICE OR SELL THEM NOW AT A FAIRLY HIGH PRICE?

AND THEY SOLD THEM.

AND SO THE HERDS ARE DOWN LIKE 30 OR 40%, AND SO THE DYNAMICS OF THE INDUSTRY HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

YOU GOT DAIRY FARMS COMING IN TO THE MARKET, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED RECENTLY, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT MR.

TRUMP HAS SAID, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE BEEF FROM ARGENTINA, SO THE INVESTMENT MARKETS ON BEEF HAVE REALLY ROLLED OVER.

TED: INTERESTING.

>> WE'LL PROBABLY SEE SOME RELIEF RETAIL PRETTY SOON.

BUT NOT YET.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT RETAIL.

WE HAVE THANKSGIVING COMING UP.

WE MAY NOT HAVE SOYBEANS FOR THANKSGIVING AND MAYBE NOT BEEF, BUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF AT THE GROCERY STORE ON THE TABLE.

WHAT'S THE PRICE, THE COST OF ALL THIS FOR A THANKSGIVING MEAL?

>> IT'S ALL OVER THE MAP.

FIRST OF ALL IT'S HIGHER IN THE WEST THAN ANYWHERE ELSE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU KNOW?

I READ DATA FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE ABOUT THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER THAT SAID WHOLESALE PRICES OF TURKEYS ARE UP 50 TO 75%, AND SO I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT'S GOING TO TRANSLATE INTO HIGHER TURKEY PRICES THIS FALL.

IT DID NOT.

IT DID NOT BECAUSE THE RETAILERS ARE USING TURKEYS AS A LOSS LEADER TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE STORES.

WHEN YOU GET INTO THE STORES, YOU PAY 40% -- YOU KNOW THAT GELLED CRANBERRY IN THE CAN, I'M NOT A FAN, BUT IF YOU ARE, IT'S 40% MORE.

ANYTHING IN A CAN IS REALLY UP BECAUSE OF ALUMINUM AND STEEL TARIFFS.

SO ANYTHING THAT'S IN A CAN IS FAR MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO IT'S LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO CUT THE TURKEY PRICES DOWN LIKE 2%, EVERYTHING ELSE IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

TED: GET YOU IN THE DOOR FOR A TURKEY AND GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> RUN TO THE STORE, GET YOUR BIRD, AND THEN DO EVERYTHING ELSE.

TED: REAL QUICKLY BEFORE YOU GO, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE.

IN TERMS OF TRADE, IN TERMS OF TARIFFS, ARE THINGS SETTLING DOWN?

>> I THINK SO.

THE WILD CARD REALLY THOUGH IS CHINA.

WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT DEAL WITH CHINA, AND THAT'S WHERE THE BULK OF THE TRADE COMES FROM.

CHINA HAS FLEXED ITS MUSCLE.

THEY'VE CONCEDED ON SOYBEANS.

WE'RE GOING TO BUY SOYBEANS, THEY'VE BEEN BUYING 25 MILLION FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

IT'S NO NEW NEWS.

TED: YEAH.

>> AT LEAST IT'S NOT ZERO LIKE IT HAS BEEN MOST OF THIS YEAR.

TED: DENNIS HOFFMAN, ASU ECONOMIST.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND DON'T EAT TOO MUCH OUT THERE.

>> AND GET THAT DEAL ON THAT TURKEY, TED.

TED: OKAY.

.

TED: IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE LEGALIZATION OF ADULT-USE MARIJUANA IN ARIZONA.

DISPENSARIES HAVE EXPANDED AS THE INDUSTRY'S GROWN AND MATURED.

WITH THE EXPANSION COMES A NEW SET OF GOALS AND CHALLENGES.

ANN TORREZ IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA DISPENSARIES ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: FIVE YEARS, HOW HAS THE INDUSTRY GROWN, MATURED, EVOLVED?

>> THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN A SKYROCKET OF CHANGE FOR THE ARIZONA MARKETPLACE.

ONE OF THE FASTEST RISING ADULT USE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PART OF THAT WAS COUPLED WITH COVID AND SOME OTHER OUTSIDE FACTORS.

BUT ARIZONA WAS REALLY READY FOR THIS PROGRAM TO BE LAUNCHED.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET IT OVER THE FINISH LINE, AND NOW THAT IT'S OPEN, IT'S MADE AN IMPACT FOR CONSUMERS.

TED: ARE THE DISPENSARIES READY FOR A MORE DISCERNING CONSUMER?

MAYBE A CONSUMER WHO KNOWS A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS, AND YOU CAN'T THROW UP A SIGN AND SAY HERE I AM.

>> IT DEFINITELY IS MAKING OUR COMPANIES AND BRANDS HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE REFINED WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING AND OFFERING TO CONSUMERS.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE GROWTH OF OLDER CONSUMERS COMING INTO THE MARKETPLACE.

SO 55+ IS A GROWING SEGMENT FOR US, AND SO WHAT THOSE CONSUMERS ARE LOOKING FOR IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN SOMEBODY UNDER THE AGE OF 30.

TED: IS OVERSUPPLY A CHALLENGE?

I WOULD IMAGINE INITIALLY MAYBE IT WAS HARD TO STOCK SHELVES, BUT NOT ANYMORE?

>> CORRECT.

OVERSUPPLY CAN BE A PROBLEM IN THE MARKETPLACE AND FINDING THE DELICATE BALANCE WHAT THE CONSUMERS WANT AND WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IS A CHALLENGE FOR US.

TED: WHAT IS IT DOING FOR PRICES?

>> DRIVES IT DOWN.

IT'S GOOD FOR THE CONSUMER, AND FOR US IT WILL REFINE THE BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE.

TED: REFINING BUSINESS PRACTICES.

WHAT ABOUT INNOVATION?

WHAT ABOUT DIVERSITY OF PRODUCTS?

>> YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE TOP OF YOUR GAME.

CONSUMERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT AND THE COMPETITION IS INTENSE.

TED: YEAH, AS FAR AS REGULATION IS CONCERNED.

HAS THAT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, HAS THAT BECOME -- TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT?

>> THE DIFFERENCE FOR US WITH ADULT USE IS WE HAVE MORE EYES ON THE INDUSTRY.

WE'RE REGULATED BY THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, OSHA, OF COURSE, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES ARE MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN THE AGENCY NOW SINCE ADULT USE.

TED: IS IT CLEAR WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE?

>> IT'S VERY CLEAR.

A LOT FOR THE OPERATORS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF REGULATORY STRUCTURE AROUND THE BUSINESSES, SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE DEEP UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLIANCE.

TED: WITH THIS AVAILABILITY, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA?

>> MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS STILL A STRONG PROGRAM IN ARIZONA.

IT HAS DEPLETED SOME OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO JUST ELECT NOT TO RENEW MEDICAL CARDS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, BUT STILL A LOT OF MEDICAL USE.

MOST PEOPLE WHO COME INTO USE MARIJUANA EVEN AS ADULT USER ARE USING IT FOR OTHER REASONS.

THEY'RE COMING IN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SLEEP OR HAVE ACHES AND PAINS AND MAYBE IT DOESN'T QUALIFY UNDER THE MEDICAL PROGRAM BUT USE IT AS ADULT-USE PURCHASE.

THE USE IS THERE.

TED: YOU HAVE VARIETY OF RESOURCES, DON'T YOU?

>> ONE OF THE CATEGORIES GROWING IS TOPICALS.

PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF THAT AS A PAIN RELIEF OR A WAY TO UTILIZE CANNABIS.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF MIGRAINES AND ARTHRITIS.

TED: MIGRAINES?

>> PUT IT ON MY SCALP.

IT ABSORBS THROUGH THE BODY AND PROVIDES RELIEF.

TED: THIS IS SO INTERESTING HERE.

MAINSTREAM ACCEPTANCE OF MARIJUANA, IS IT THERE?

IS IT CLOSE?

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S BETTER THAN IT HAD BEEN, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CURIOSITY ABOUT THE PLANT AND WHAT IT CAN DO AND HOW THE INDUSTRY IS IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

SO THERE'S STILL THE CAN OF CURIOUS.

TED: VERY GOOD.

LIKE ON THE SCALP?

>> ALL OVER.

TED: ANN TORREZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.