It is generally best not to cut out healthy leaves. I top my plants to create 4 main branches (see Uncle Ben's topping technique on RIU) and then bend them out toward the sides of the pot to give them room to grow. If there are a few shade leaves blocking a bud site or two I'll bend the leaf under the bud but not cut it off.
There are good reasons to cut out shade leaves, like clearing the area under a screen, creating airflow in a thick canopy, etc. but I didn't think that was the source of your question, thus my recommendation to leave the leaves on.