Data released by Statistics Canada earlier this week shows the average price for a gram of cannabis from the illicit market cost approximately $7.43/g in the 10 months preceding federal legalization.

But between legalization taking effect last October and now, the average price on the illicit market has plummeted to just $5.57/g, a nearly $2 difference.

That leaves Saskatchewan with one of the biggest price drops with regards to illicit adult-use cannabis in Canada—with the exception of Prince Edward Island.

In Canada, the average price drop was significantly less—just 72 cents—having gone from $6.80 before Oct. 2018 to its current $6.12.

Conversely, the price per gram of so-called “legal” weed skyrocketed from $7.11 to $10.42, a near $3 difference. The price increase applied to both medical and adult-use cannabis.

Licensed retailers in Saskatchewan have long complained of being undercut by the illicit market, and like other provinces, was hit with supply issues shortly after legalization took effect.

However, Canadians should be cautious before reading too much into the new numbers. The data was gathered from anonymous users via online survey.

Compared to other provinces, the pool of participants from Saskatchewan was considerably lower than those in other provinces—a mere 384 residents of the prairie province took part, which is hardly a significant sample in a population of 1.2 million.

Still, licensed retailers are saying that the black market deals are taking a serious piece of their profits.

Andrew Gordon, vice-president of Kiaro, says that improved supply has led to better wholesale prices for retailers of late, but it’s still tough going for licensed pot shops to compete.

“Now is the time for the government to take advantage of the market shift with a strong push for lower federal taxation, in order to snuff out the price advantages the illicit market continues to enjoy,” Gordon told CBC News. “Eroding the illicit market operators is a key aim of the Cannabis Act,” he added.

To date, Saskatchewan has approximately 30 licensed cannabis retailers.