The hot topic of the day: marijuana legalization. Millions of dollars are being invested in marketing and public relations by the pro-marijuana camp, which has much to gain financially. But, are they sharing all the facts?

According to USA Today, scientists at Columbia University have determined that marijuana contributed to 12% of all traffic fatalities in 2010, a number which had tripled in ten years. The study examined toxicology reports from roughly 24,000 driving-related deaths.

Youth, in particular, are prone to driving while intoxicated. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one in eight high school seniors admitted to driving under the influence of marijuana. Almost 25% of all drivers killed in drug-related automobile accidents were younger than 25 years of age.

According to Insurance.com, Colorado has experienced an increase in traffic deaths in which marijuana was the only drug involved. As the legalization trend spreads and use increases, researchers anticipate increasing numbers.

Stay tuned for more information as the NHTSA and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) complete a three-year study on the effects of driving under the influence of marijuana, using a driving simulator at the University of Iowa.