no, leave the leaves on. They will help bud production at then end, if you chop them off that 2 week spurt at then end will be much less; they're like nutrient resevoirs. 5 weeks isnt even close. Do you know the strain? is it indica (wide dark leafs) or sativa (thin light ) or in the middle. it will be at leas 7 weeks, 8 is normal. If it is sativa much much more