Canadian distributors eager to provide company apparel and other branded merchandise for legal cannabis companies would have to wait longer to capitalize on the opportunity, if certain law enforcement authorities north of the border get their way.

Recently, Canadian police officials asked for a postponement of the national legalization of recreational marijuana, which is currently slated for July 1, 2018, in Canada. Representatives from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Ontario Provincial Police and the Saskatoon Police Service testified to the House of Commons health committee last week that they will not be ready to enforce the new law by next summer. An official written request was submitted. “If legislation is ready to go in July 2018, policing will not be ready to go in August,” Rick Barnum, the Ontario Provincial Police deputy commissioner for investigations and organized crime, told the health committee. “It’s impossible.”

So far, the federal government has shown no signs that it will put off passing the legislation. Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to Canada’s minister of justice and a former Toronto police chief, told the Associated Press that the government is focusing on “getting this job done as quickly as we are able.” He added: “I very much respect what law enforcement said today. We’ve listened to their concerns.”

Police representatives in Canada have asked for more time to train officers on the details of the new law, and said they will have to more than double the number of officers certified to administer roadside tests for drug-impaired motorists. They also state they need more time for public education.

The cannabis discussion in Canada comes on the heels of what can be seen as a victory for promotional products companies keen to capitalize on the legal marijuana market in California. Earlier this month, the California Assembly’s Appropriations Committee placed a hold SB162, which would have prohibited marijuana sellers and manufacturers from advertising the drug and related paraphernalia with branded merchandise. That clears the way for cannabis companies in the Golden State to invest in promotional products.

In Canada, legalization will come with numerous caveats on advertising practices, particularly in an effort to avoid appealing to youth. The bill stipulates that packaging can also only state the producer’s name and pertinent company information, as well as strain type, price and any additional labeling requirements. Suppliers cannot use packaging, labeling and promotional products that appeal to youth; sell cannabis through self-service displays or vending machines; or promote it in any location where someone under 18 could be exposed to it. The penalty is a maximum fine of $5 million or three years in jail.

When legalized, the Canadian marijuana industry is expected to have a base retail worth of between $4.9 billion and $8.7 billion, according to Deloitte. That poses a significant opportunity for promotional products companies; currently, the Canadian spirits market alone is worth $5 billion.