unfortunately the tabloid backlash is what exactly puts off Universities and the NHS from conducting useful research into substances which might have both therapeutic and recreational potentials. The fact that some stuck up uni student is prepared to take that £250 and grass to the tabloid paper is no laughing matter either, especially as had she not done so I doubt that rag would have bothered dragging up the story – its hardly as if they normally scour learned journals of Cambridge scientists for stories..
perhaps next time the researchers should make the trial subjects sign a non-disclosure agreement, whereby if they talk to the Press outside certain confines they can be sued. A fair court would not prevent trial subjects divulging geniune malpractice in the public interest (such as that trial of that new drug what half killed loads of folk) but would perhaps stop people making frivolous negative comments…
