Do not cut them off, your plant needs them to make the energy to grow the flowers.
"Budsites" do not need direct exposure to light for flowers to grow.
Flowers are like fruit, the grow all over the treee, not just on the sunny side.
Sunlight that we can not see will go right through a leaf and strike what we think are shaded areas anyhow.
For thirty five years I never defoliate and my plants flowers grow enormous outdoors!
Besides, I have never seen a cannabis plant that gets rid of its leaves during flowering all by itself in nature!
Just remember........
Less leaves = less energy being made = less potential growth
...............or.................
More leaves = more energy being made = more potential growth.