DIANA PANCHENKO: Zelensky commissars get $100-500 for every man they kidnap.

Stand with Ukraine! https://t.co/xHCEfC9sCL

— Alex (Sasha) Krainer (@NakedHedgie) March 31, 2025

2014: Farid Fata, M.D., 50, of Oakland Township, Michigan, pleaded guilty in September 2014 to 13 counts of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay or receive kickbacks, and two counts of money laundering.

administering medically unnecessary infusions or injections to 553 individual patients and submitting to Medicare and private insurance companies approximately $34 million in fraudulent claims.  --Dept. of Justice

Horrific!

Doctor Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for lying to Patients about having Cancer and receiving 17.5 Million Dollars in Kickbacks from Chemo Companies pic.twitter.com/dIAJxith9r

— “Sudden And Unexpected” (@toobaffled) March 31, 2025

"administering medically unnecessary infusions"?  Why that makes him normal, just like every other doctor.  Slippery slope?

from the Dept. of Justice, 

A Detroit area hematologist-oncologist was sentenced today to serve 45 years in prison for his role in a healthcare fraud scheme that included administering medically unnecessary infusions or injections to 553 individual patients and submitting to Medicare and private insurance companies approximately $34 million in fraudulent claims.

Farid Fata, M.D., 50, of Oakland Township, Michigan, pleaded guilty in September 2014 to 13 counts of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay or receive kickbacks, and two counts of money laundering.  U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman of the Eastern District of Michigan imposed the sentence and ordered Fata to forfeit $17.6 million.

“Rather than use his medical degree to save lives, Dr. Fata instead destroyed them in pursuit of profit,”  said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell.  “Time and again, Dr. Fata callously violated his patients' trust as he used false cancer diagnoses and unwarranted and dangerous treatments as tools to steal millions of dollars from Medicare, even stooping to profit from the last days of some patients' lives.  While no sentence can restore what was taken from his patients and their families, the sentence imposed ensures that never again will Dr. Fata lay hands on another patient.”

“Health care fraud has been a serious problem in Michigan, but no case has been as egregious as the conduct of Dr. Farid Fata,” said U.S. Attorney McQuade.  “Dr. Fata did not care for patients; he exploited them as commodities.  He over-treated, under-treated, and outright lied to patients about whether they had cancer so that he could maximize his own profits.”

KEVIN MCKERNAN: 95% of the gummies and vapes in the hemp stores/smoke shops contain synthetic cannabinoids.

95% of the gummies and vapes in the hemp stores/smoke shops contain synthetic cannabinoids.

Reminds me of moonshine and methanol. https://t.co/HH8r5C6Hwy

— Kevin McKernan (@Kevin_McKernan) March 31, 2025

What to look for.  Wikipedia alerts us a little. 

Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of designer drugs that include various compounds, often with alphanumeric names. Some well-known examples are JWH-018, JWH-073, AM-2201, and CP-47,497, but there are many others, and new ones are continually being developed.

Here is a list of 27 products that contain synthetic cannabinoids. And here.

I wish this stuff were fiction,

Typically, synthetic cannabinoids are sprayed onto plant matter and are usually smoked, although they have also been ingested as a concentrated liquid form in the United States and United Kingdom since 2016. They have been marketed as herbal incense, or "herbal smoking blends", and sold under common names such as K2, spice, and synthetic marijuana. They are often labeled "not for human consumption" for liability defense. A large and complex variety of synthetic cannabinoids are designed in an attempt to avoid legal restrictions on cannabis, making synthetic cannabinoids designer drugs.

Most synthetic cannabinoids are agonists of the cannabinoid receptors. They have been designed to be similar to THC, the natural cannabinoid with the strongest binding affinity to the CB₁ receptor, which is linked to the psychoactive effects or "high" of marijuana. These synthetic analogs often have greater binding affinity and greater potency to the CB₁ receptors. There are several synthetic cannabinoid families (e.g., AM-xxx, CP-xx,xxx, HU-xx, JWH-xxx) which are classified by the creator of the substance (e.g., JWH stands for John W. Huffman), which can include several substances with different base structures such as classical cannabinoids and unrelated naphthoylindoles.

 

NICOTINE LOZENGES: Are you getting more nicotine from lozenges than in a single American cigarette? And if you are, is that excess nicotine via a lozenge bad for you?

a single cigarette typically contains about 10 to 12 milligrams (mg) of nicotine. However, when smoked, only about 1 to 2 mg of nicotine is absorbed by the smoker. However, only about 50-60% of the nicotine in a lozenge is absorbed through the mouth’s mucous membranes, meaning 20-24 mg consumed would deliver roughly 10-14 mg into your system over time, depending on usage and absorption efficiency. --Grok

How much nicotine is in a single American cigarette?

from Grok: 

In the United States, a single cigarette typically contains about 10 to 12 milligrams (mg) of nicotine, though this can vary depending on the brand, blend, and specific product (e.g., light, full-flavor, or menthol). For example, popular American brands like Marlboro or Camel often fall within this range. However, when smoked, only about 1 to 2 mg of nicotine is absorbed by the smoker, as factors like the cigarette’s filter, ventilation, and smoking behavior (e.g., how deeply or frequently one puffs) affect the actual intake. The U.S. tobacco industry doesn’t have a strict standard for nicotine content, so it’s consistent with global averages but can differ slightly across manufacturers.

What are the risks from prolonged consumption of nicotine lozenges? 

Prolonged consumption of nicotine lozenges, like any nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), carries potential health risks, though they’re generally considered safer than smoking since they don’t involve inhaling tar, carbon monoxide, or other combustion byproducts. The risks tied to long-term use stem primarily from nicotine itself—a highly addictive substance that affects multiple systems in the body—and, to a lesser extent, from the lozenges’ other ingredients. Here’s a breakdown based on current understanding:

Nicotine is a stimulant that acts on the cardiovascular system. Over time, it can elevate heart rate and blood pressure by triggering the release of adrenaline and constricting blood vessels. Studies suggest chronic nicotine exposure may increase the risk of hypertension, atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries), and heart disease. For example, research on nicotine’s vasoconstrictive effects shows it can reduce blood flow, potentially straining the heart, especially in people with preexisting conditions like coronary artery disease. While the risk is lower than with smoking—where studies estimate a 2-4 times higher chance of heart attack—prolonged use still carries a measurable impact.

The addiction factor is significant. Nicotine lozenges deliver doses typically ranging from 2 to 4 mg per piece, and long-term use can perpetuate dependence rather than break it. Users might replace one habit (smoking) with another (lozenge use), delaying full cessation. Withdrawal symptoms—irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating—can resurface if someone tries to stop, reinforcing the cycle. Data from cessation trials show that up to 20-30% of NRT users remain dependent on products like lozenges after a year, suggesting a risk of indefinite reliance.

Gastrointestinal effects are another concern. Nicotine lozenges dissolve in the mouth, and swallowing excess saliva can irritate the stomach lining, potentially causing nausea, heartburn, or, over time, gastritis. Some users report hiccups or acid reflux as side effects, and chronic irritation might increase the odds of ulcers, though direct evidence linking lozenges to ulcers is limited compared to smoking, which doubles ulcer risk per some studies.

Oral health takes a hit too. Prolonged exposure to nicotine in the mouth can reduce saliva production, leading to dry mouth, which ups the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. The lozenges often contain sweeteners like mannitol or sorbitol, and while these are sugar-free, frequent use could still alter the oral microbiome or cause minor irritation to gums and tissues. Case reports have noted gum recession or soreness in long-term users, though severe outcomes like oral cancer—strongly tied to tobacco—are not a significant concern with NRT.

There’s also the question of cancer risk. Nicotine itself isn’t a carcinogen, but it may promote tumor growth by enhancing angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) and cell proliferation, as shown in lab studies. Human evidence is less clear—smoking’s cancer link comes from tar and chemicals, not just nicotine—but prolonged use might theoretically amplify risks in susceptible individuals, especially if combined with other factors like HPV for oral cancers.

Other systems aren’t immune. Nicotine crosses the blood-brain barrier, and chronic exposure might affect cognitive function or exacerbate anxiety and mood disorders over time, though it can also temporarily sharpen focus, complicating the picture. It’s metabolized by the liver, and while lozenges bypass the “first-pass” effect of oral ingestion, heavy long-term use could still stress liver enzymes like CYP2A6, though this is more speculative than proven.

Side effects specific to lozenges—like throat irritation, coughing, or headaches—tend to fade with proper use (e.g., not chewing or swallowing them), but they can persist or worsen if someone overuses them beyond the recommended 12-week cessation period. Dosing matters: exceeding 20 lozenges (80 mg of nicotine) daily could lead to toxicity symptoms like palpitations, sweating, or confusion, though this is rare.

The flip side? Compared to smoking, lozenges cut exposure to thousands of harmful chemicals. Public health bodies like the FDA and NHS view NRT as a net positive for smokers trying to quit, with risks dwarfed by cigarettes’ toll—think 480,000 deaths yearly in the U.S. alone from smoking versus no clear mortality stats for NRT misuse. Long-term studies are sparse, though; most focus on short-term cessation (6-12 months), not years of use.

In short, prolonged nicotine lozenge use risks cardiovascular strain, sustained addiction, oral and stomach irritation, and theoretical (but unproven) cancer promotion, alongside milder issues like dry mouth or headaches. It’s a trade-off: safer than smoking, but not risk-free. If you’re using them beyond the intended quit window, tapering off or consulting a doctor could dodge the worst of it.

Disclaimer: Grok is not a doctor; please consult one. Don't share information that can identify you.

If you're consuming 20-24 mgs of nicotine lozenges, there are additional risks despite the fact that only 12-14 mgs make it through membrane.