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Canada’s marijuana companies have entered a make-or-break period, where logistics could matter as much as the product itself in determining who will be the biggest winners to come out of legalization. 

Though the Senate’s historic passing of the Cannabis Act Tuesday night means Royal Assent is expected within days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that legal cannabis sales won’t begin until Oct. 17. 

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That gives companies just over four months to get their houses in order and their products to provincial wholesalers and government and private retailers. 

“Provinces are now doing their due diligence and coming by our facilities and making sure that we can actually grow, and that we actually have product,” said Brad Rogers, president of CannTrust Holdings Inc.

Only Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have signed supply agreements with cannabis companies.  But other provinces, including Ontario, are finalizing their product calls, determining what companies can provide what products and at what volumes.