Should I cut these leaves off? “Lollipop”

I have this ice cream cake x biscotti plant i started indoors in April and brought it outside to finish its cycle early June. 4.2 gallon pot. I had topped her sometime back in may and then a couple weeks ago started some LST and she has a lot of tops now. There’s a lot of undergrowth and also old fan leaves that seem to be shaded and hanging low. This is my first time growing a plant of this stature and I was wondering if any pros think I should defoliate some undergrowth and leaves?? Can anyone give me any suggestions? I’m on the north east coast and suspect her to start flowering in the next few weeks. Sorry if I post this in a few threads looking for the right knowledge. Thanks RIU!

Do lollipoping when your plant is in the flowering stage in the first week when its stretching

But after that try not the stress the plant

I seen some cut the lower foliage sending more growth upwards