It's completely possible in apartments. Tent, light and air extractor connected to hepa filter removes majority of the smell. A small tent (60cm x 60cm x 1.2m) manages a plant or two.
A cheap usb microscope. I wanted to get into macro photography but my eyesight is pretty terrible even with glasses and struggle to see fine details so struggled to set the mounts up. (Small insects, grains, etc)
Saw a usb microscope for 20€ on Amazon and thought for 20 euro it’s going to be terrible but worth a punt. It’s bloody brilliant. Have used it for a whole variety of things from threading needles to soldering work, repairing stuff with glue and tightening up glasses as well as the macro stuff. Coupled with some ‘helping hands’ it’s a permanent fixture on the pc desk.
The world is bigger than the US. My point remains.. Don't spread the false narrative that you can't grow your own in a small abode. Thanks.