During a segment on Libertarians’ chances in 2016, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said Thursday, “When you look at libertarians like Ron Paul and Rand Paul, their brand is small government.”

“When you look at Gary Johnson, his brand for the most part, is marijuana.”

His comments begin at 1:50:

Scarborough makes a valid point.

Gov. Johnson is not only an outspoken marijuana legalization advocate, but has talked openly about his regular use and was recently CEO of a pot company. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. Watching Johnson the past few years, his marijuana-related activities usually elicited a chuckle, at worst.

But now he’s polling at 10 percent.

One of the most common slams against libertarians is that we’re just a bunch of libertines who want to smoke weed all the time. In the many interviews I’ve done since the liberty movement began nine years ago, I’ve heard this time and again.

In the three interviews I’ve done this week I’ve been asked about libertarians and marijuana each time, and usually first—and also about the naked guy at the Libertarian Convention. Thanks a lot naked guy.

But public nudity aside, libertarians do believe in minding one’s own business. We do believe in legalizing marijuana.

Still, there’s a lot more to our philosophy than just generally being pro-pot.

Ron and Rand Paul and other liberty leaders have worked overtime for the past decade to explain how liberty applies to foreign policy, privacy rights, the Federal Reserve, economics, our criminal justice system, the proper role of government and other issues.

Yes, the Pauls have also talked about the evils of the drug war including ending the federal war on drugs. Libertarians should and must talk about this issue.

I’ll go even further: For millions of Americans, and for some time, marijuana use has been as socially acceptable as drinking alcohol. Libertarians should be part of this important discussion too. It could even be a vote getter.

Rand Paul has raised money from the emerging marijuana industry and advocacy groups and was rated the most pot-friendly 2016 major party candidate, even more so than Bernie Sanders. This is not new territory for liberty candidates of any stripe.

But the drug issue should be part of a larger libertarian package. The libertarian brand shouldn’t be perceived as being just about weed, even as more Americans than ever support legalization.

Many have now been educated about liberty ideas by former Congressman Paul and Senator Paul. A former Governor Johnson can do the same. Particularly a governor who was a successful former Republican elected twice in a blue state.

Come November when the Libertarian Party hopes to shatter records, will more voters think of Gary Johnson as a serious presidential contender? Or just the pot dude?

That’s largely up to Mr. Johnson.

When Rand Paul said in 2013 “I’m not advocating everyone go out and run around with no clothes on and smoke pot,” I understood exactly what he was saying and was glad he did. He was telling a largely evangelical audience, no matter what stereotype you might hold of libertarians, we’re something more than that and we’re certainly better than that.

He was saying that his liberty philosophy could be relatable to them, too.

Many libertarians took offense at the senator’s comments. Some even insinuated Paul really didn’t want to end the drug war. How dare Rand Paul say libertarians are a bunch of pot-smoking heathens!

He said it because many Americans really do believe that’s all we stand for.

Part of Gary Johnson’s job for the next six months is to show voters it’s not true.

Disclosure: I co-authored Senator Rand Paul’s 2011 book The Tea Party Goes to Washington.