Pubdate: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 Source: Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com Author: Jim Gierach DRUG WAR THE SNAKE Re: "Latin America - Drug trade is the snake in the garden," Editorials, Aug. 3. The drug war is the snake in the garden in Mexico and at home. End the drug war. Coca production is up 56 percent in Colombia between 1995 to 1997. Drugs are increasingly available, strength is up and drug prices are down as drugs flood American markets in ever-greater abundance. How much more drug-war drugs can we endure? Legalize and medicalize - something that cuts drug profits before a dealer can make a profit. JIM GIERACH, Oak Lawn, Ill. - --- Checked-by: Rolf Ernst