The first group of shots from today is showing female preflowers, didn't see any male. The second shot, not in focus where it matters (note that the focal point is on the leaf to the right of your hand).
As for popcorn buds, YMMV but personally I'd remove the lowest sidebranches, and remove the innermost flowering spots on some of the midlevel sidebranches, let the plant put its energy into the upper flowers. They'll still stretch a fair amount in the next few weeks.