Diane Valden reports in The Columbia Paper that Copake won't block cannabis retail stores, but might not allow consumption lounges, or smoking bars. “This is a great opportunity for tax revenue,” said Lindsay LeBrecht of Copake Lake. “Now everybody goes to Great Barrington. We should get our fair share and opt-in to cannabis.” State lawmakers legalized cannabis in New York in April, and sales are expected to begin next year after final regulations are set. Municipalities have until Dec. 31 to opt-out of retail stores, and/or consumption lounges. Copake Town Supervisor Jeanne Mettler said public comments on the issue “show strong support" for cannabis sales there. Mettler and town board members Jeffrey Judd and Richard Wolf voted to allow cannabis sales in Copake, while Stosh Gansowski voted against, and Terry Sullivan abstained. A public hearing for a law to opt-out of allowing on-site consumption sites will be held at 6:45 p.m. prior to Copake's December 9 Town Board meeting. Read more about this story in The Columbia Paper.