On July 18, 1956, the Narcotic Control Act of 1956 became law. The act increased still further the penalties for violation of the existing laws and proliferating the scope of federal control over the use, possession and sale of narcotic drugs and marijuana. Learn more about the Narcotic Control Act of 1956.

On July 18, 1906, Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo, South Africa. Mandela became a symbol of the anti-Apartheid movement, spending 27 years in prison for his efforts to topple the country's segregation system. In 1990, Mandela was released from prison and Apartheid was soon dismantled. Mandela was elected the first black President of South Africa during the country's first multi-racial elections in 1994. Learn more about Nelson Mandela from the Nelson Mandela Foundation.