There is a growing consensus that a dark period of 48-72 hours before the chop is beneficial.
I do a rough trim, removing the fan leaves at the chop. A slow dry is also beneficial. Keep them in a dark place with 50-65% RH. They're finished drying when the small branches at the colas snap, but the larger branches still bend. I do a final trim and jar them with a 62% Boveda pack. Keep them in the dark while curing. Look at them daily for a while and dream of the smoke you'll have. While looking, check for any moisture on the buds, or walls of your jars. If you see any, pour the buds onto a tray letting them breath and get rid of the excess moisture for about 20 min, or until the observed moisture is gone. Then re-jar them and continue the routine.