*By Jacqueline Corba*
This summer season, CBD-infused beverages were among the hottest new drinks on the market. The drinks, said Dirty Lemon's CEO Zak Normandin, offer an alternative way for some to just chill ー sans alcohol, and sans the traditional marijuana-induced high.
"A lot of consumers are actually replacing ... an alcoholic beverage \[with this\]. So at the end of the day you've had a long day at work incorporating this product into your daily routine to just relax," Normandin, also a co-founder of the beverage company, told Cheddar's CannaBiz on Tuesday.
Dirty Lemon, which launched in 2015 with a charcoal-infused lemon-flavored beverage called a detox "elixir," introduced its first CBD drink this July. The new product sold out of the first batch, roughly 20,000 bottles, in only two days.
"It's been challenging for us to keep up with demand," Normandin said. "People want to experience it for themselves."
Normandin said the combination of ingredients in a ready-to-drink format is driving the success of his company's beverage products and his new CBD drink, which uses cannabidiol produced by cannabis brand [Beboe](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-hermes-of-marijuana-wants-to-bring-you-cannabis).
Dirty Lemon is just one example of many companies that want to capitalize on the benefits of this marijuana extract, which does not actually contain THC or produce a high.
"It's a very crowded field and there is a lot of competition," Green Market Report CEO and editor-in-chief Debra Borchardt told Cheddar Tuesday.
CBD maker Charlotte's Web went public on the Canadian Securities Exchange [last week](https://www.newcannabisventures.com/charlottes-web-ipo-and-secondary-offering-boosted-to-16-45-million-shares-as-underwriters-exercise-over-allotment-option/). Its products are sold in 2,700 retail locations and the company is looking to triple its annual revenue this year. Borchardt said the company has already been able to capture 14 percent of the market.
And investors are taking note ー the stock surged more than 13 percent Tuesday, its third day of trading on the public market.
This is only the beginning for CBD products on the market, Borchardt said.
"You're going to be seeing people buying CBD water, and they are going to feel good. It's a wellness thing."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/dirty-lemon-adds-cbd-to-its-beverage-menu).
Rachel Thomas, the co-founder and CEO of the non-profit Lean In, joined Cheddar amid Women's History Month, to discuss how the organization is taking on issues that continue to impact the workplace through its Circles program. "These are a program that brings women together in small groups, usually 8 to 12, for support, camaraderie, and to learn together," she said. "We also we have a lot of curriculum so women can learn how to navigate workplace biases, how to negotiate with women." Thomas also applauded President Biden's recent call to action on equal pay for women, noting that businesses must do more to be cognizant of inherent gender and racial biases.
Beer brand Heineken recently revealed its foray into the metaverse was something of a joke, but how serious are brands taking the latest craze in general? Cheddar's Alex Vuocolo takes a closer look.
With the highest inflation in 40 years, some retailers say shoppers are reaching their limits. Efforts to charge more for items are being met with new resistance from customers, especially on lower-priced apparel and furniture. Marshal Cohen, the chief retail industry analyst at market researcher NPD Group, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the latest trends in consumer spending and how the hike in interest rates might impact wallets moving forward. "What's really impacting the consumer: higher prices, less promotions." He also noted other headwinds for the economy on the horizon including skimpier tax refunds for those who took advantage of child credits and student loan repayments possibly restarting.
Caroline Aaron, who plays matriarch Shirley Maisel on Amazon Prime's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," joined Cheddar News to talk about her "thrilling" turn as the character as well as what to expect in Season Five. “It's very exciting actually to be a part of something so iconic. It's New York, it's the 1950s, and it's about women, so it's like all this and heaven, too," she said. "What it's been like to play Shirley is to walk around with your heart on the outside of your body." The award-winning show will be ending with its fifth season.
Catching you up on what you Need to Know on Mar 18, 2022, with updates on the war in Ukraine, President Biden’s meeting with Xi Jinping, Meta removing a deepfake video of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Britney Griner, vaccine updates, and tech news.
Sandra Magallon, Midwest Divison Area Manager at JPMorgan Chase, joins ChedHER to discuss the perks of having a business mentor, and what business owners can learn from Chase's Curated Coaching for Entrepreneurs experience.