you can rip them off if your sure they are male pods..
I had a plant that was 100% female, hairs and pistals all over.... I grew the damn thing for 5-6 months and it was like 3x3 ft across. I put it into flower and like 1.5-2 weeks later it turned out to be 100% male, not a single new set of hairs anywhere. There were probably 600-1000 nodes and every one was male. I was so pissed!! but if there is only a few pollen sacks you can rip them off sure, wont hurt your plant at all..... just make sure your very thorough and you got every one. if you miss one male flower it could make tons of seeds in you buds.
oh and you dont have to cut the branches...... just pull the balls/ pollen sacks off with your fingers, I would not cut your plant unless your killing it, cloning it, or harvesting it. good luck man