UK: St Andrews University vice-principal accused of giving rector ‘marijuana gummies’ when she was student

University insists Niall Scott supplied legal CBD sweets and brands allegations malicious and defamatory.

vice-principal at St Andrews University has been accused of supplying drugs to rector Stella Maris when she was a student.

She claimed to an independent investigator – hired to probe several allegations she has made about the institution – that Niall Scott gave her “marijuana gummies” in March 2023.

Ms Maris was in the final year of her studies at the time and carrying out the role of rector’s assessor – a voluntary position that sees a student appointed to act as a link between the rector and the student body.

But St Andrews University insists Mr Scott supplied CBD gummies rather than sweets containing illegal cannabis, and has branded the allegations “malicious and defamatory”.

The Courier has seen messages in which the pair discuss the prospect of Mr Scott supplying Ms Maris with the gummies – with the institution’s communications chief saying: “Would this make me your dealer?!”

‘Malicious and defamatory’

In another exchange, he asks whether a gummy made her feel “slightly mellow” and offers to “top up” her “supply” after she reports an effect on her short-term memory.

CBD is a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis and gummies containing it are widely available in shops and online.

Unlike CBD, THC – the substance responsible for the high associated with cannabis – is a controlled drug.

The Courier has not independently established what the sweets contained.

A St Andrews University spokesperson said: “We consider these allegations to be malicious and defamatory.