Defoliation in the first flower week,

https://www.cocoforcannabis.com/community/photons_corner/to-defoliate-or-not-to-defoliate/ By far the best information and most comprehensive write-up on the concept. I strongly recommend reading this as well as his other blogs. This person uses logic and reasons to draw conclusions, not hubris and self-absorbed feelings. Just don't over do it. LEaves do more than just photosynthesis, but that alone is enough reason to want to keep most of them. Removing leaves does not force the plant to focus on bud sites. that's some nonsense that gets repeated by the mob. CO2 from transpiration ATP from photosynthesis Storage of building blocks for cellular reproduction Leaves are important anatomy for several reasons. Have an extremely good reason to remove them: Microbial concerns due to congestions... maybe your RH is uncontrollable and it's a necessar evil to avoid issues (not optimal but better than a pile of moldy bud)... ATP is mobile. Relative to the light and how distributed the plant is, you'll get relatively the same quality nugs at same depth in canopy given your environmental variables (climate, light given, substrate used, fertigation methods, etc.. everything is the 'environment'). Clear for air flow but don't think some minute extra light hitting a deeper leaf or less useful a flower, is going to cause anything dramatic, because it doesn't. Genetics and environment.. avoid major congestion.. simple as that.