Jasmine Johnson, CEO of GŪD Essence, Recognized by South Florida Business & Wealth’s 2025 Apogee Awards
- Durée & Company
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Jasmine Johnson, CEO of GŪD Essence, a Black-woman-led cannabis company, is recognized as a 2025 honoree in South Florida Business & Wealth’s Apogee Awards in the CEO Women Owned Business category. Johnson accepted the honor at the Nov. 19 awards luncheon at The Venue in Fort Lauderdale.
The Apogee Awards celebrate distinguished C-suite leaders across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties who demonstrate outstanding leadership, industry influence and community commitment.
Johnson has spent the past five years building GŪD Essence, a vertically integrated cannabis company rooted in cultural impact, research partnerships and economic inclusion. Under her leadership, the company is launching dispensaries across Florida, constructing a state-of-the-art cultivation and processing campus, and creating a workforce development pipeline aimed at generating more than 5,000 jobs. GŪD Essence is one of the few cannabis companies in Florida positioned to operate as a licensed medical marijuana treatment center (MMTC).
She manages more than $200 million in assets, partnerships with university research programs, and has earned a reputation as a creative, community-driven entrepreneur in the cannabis space.
Johnson has more than 15 years of experience spanning cannabis, real estate, hospitality and special events. A Miami native, she launched her first business at 18 years old. She went on to make her mark in the hospitality world by co-founding Crescendo Jazz & Blues Lounge, a South Florida cultural entity that hosted 300+ high-impact events, from political town halls to iconic celebrations.
“I am honored to be named by South Florida Business & Wealth as a CEO Women Owned Business honoree,” said Johnson. “As a leader in the South Florida cannabis industry, my goal is to reclaim cannabis traditions openly and with dignity, and position GŪD Essence as a cultural hub rooted in education, trust, and care.”
Johnson’s recognition at the Apogee Awards underscores her dedication to shifting culture around cannabis and building a successful cannabis business in South Florida that encourages science, research, and smarter policy.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality/Administration Management from Florida International University in Miami, as well as an associate’s degree in Business Management, Marketing from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee.
About GŪD Essence GŪD Essence is a Black-woman-led cannabis company positioned to change the lives of Floridians with a patient-focused vertically integrated MMTC business model, founded on the strength of research and development, and clinical results. Its mission is to lead research and development and advance innovation in medical cannabis from seed to sale, to significantly improve the well-being and quality of life of its customers. For more information, visit gudessence.com.