The only thing I cut early, is the lowest bud or branch and not until I think I'm within the harvest window. I find it to be a pain viewing trichomes on the plant, so I take a cutting to view off of the plant. After viewing trichomes, I just hang that cutting in a kitchen cupboard, usually 5 to 7 days, at which point it's dry enough to smoke. If it isn't, I'll crack the bud apart, leave it on a piece of clean paper for a day or 2-3 days, then it's usually smokable.
Anything done faster than that, is headache city, so I don't bother.